Symptoms Of Eating Disorder

Many of us worry about what we eat and how we look, but an eating disorder is far more than this. It is a vicious web of deceit that our own minds spin for us and which creates a compulsion to eat or starve ourselves with complete disregard for our own health.

Diagnosis of eating disorders is very difficult as they tend to be progressive, so what starts out as a diet can turn into a harmful binge and purge cycle over time. The other reason why they are difficult to diagnose is because those who suffer from eating disorders can go to great lengths to hide the problem. This is why it is so important to recognise the subtle symptoms:

• Preoccupation to the point of obsession with body weight
• Desperation to diet even when already thin (obsessive calorie counting and label reading)
• Rapid weight loss, gain or fluctuations
• Excuses to avoid eating (already eaten, not feeling well, etc.)
• Regular bathroom trips during or after eating
• Taking laxatives or diet pills when unnecessary
• Piles of empty food wrappers, empty shelves or hidden stashes of food
• Excessive exercising, fasting, vomiting
• Wearing multiple layers of baggy clothing to hide weight loss