Sometimes eating disorder signs and symptoms are not as clear as you might think. Learning the signs and symptoms of eating disorders will help you help others.
While the media has begun to create awareness of the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, this is just the beginning. The more who are aware of these signs, the more who can be helped into recovery for eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia , and compulsive eating. Many eating disorder sufferers are very good at covering up their tracks, while others showcase signs because they do want help. But they need you to reach out to them.
Common Anorexia Signs and Symptoms
- Always cold
- Avoids restaurants and planned meals
- Bruises easily
- Checks weight on scale often
- Complains of being “too fat” even when extremely thin
- Depression
- Difficulty eating around others
- Dizziness
- Dry skin
- Evidence of controlling weight by laxatives, diet pills or diuretics
- Excessive exercise
- Extreme dieting
- Fainting spells
- Fatigue
- Guilt and/or shame about eating
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Loss of periods
- Mood swings
- Muscle weakness
- Pale complexion
- Rapid weight loss
- Wears loose clothing to hide weight loss
- Withdrawn behavior
Common Bulimia Signs and Symptoms
- Abuse of laxatives diet pills or diuretics
- Avoids restaurants, planned meals, etc.
- Bleeding of the esophagus
- Broken blood vessels and swollen glands
- Depression
- Extreme exercising patterns
- Fasting
- Fatigue
- Frequent visits to the bathroom after eating
- Mood swings
- Seeks approval from others
- Self-hate feelings after eating
- Sore throat
- Swollen or infected saliva glands
- Teeth and gum problems
- Vomiting
- Weakness