Recognising the warning signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and seeking help early can greatly improve the chances of recovery.
That’s why it’s important to know what to look for. Eating disorders are mental health conditions that cause you to have an unhealthy relationship with food. Anyone can develop an eating disorder.
Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Treatment for these is available to help people feel better.
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These are some of the common signs or symptoms of an eating disorder:
- Being preoccupied with weight loss, food, calories, and dieting
- Refusing to eat certain foods, and often eliminating whole food groups
- Having excuses to avoid mealtimes
- Developing food rituals
- Extreme concerns with body size and shape
- Extreme mood swings
Also see: Intuitive eating: does eating just when you’re hungry really work?
Research by Wales-based Swansea University, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showed that people diagnosed with a disorder had higher rates of other conditions and of prescriptions in the years before their diagnosis.
They noted that “Eating disorders can have a devastating impact on individuals and their families, so this study is very timely.”
By educating yourself and fostering open communication about eating disorders, you empower yourself to spot the early warning signs.
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Feature Image: Gettys
