What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are psychological illnesses in which emotions and thinking patterns cause a person to adopt harmful eating habits. Often, these habits are a way of coping with depression, stress or anxiety. Eating disorders affect thinking and behavior. People with eating disorders may suffer from low self-esteem and are frequently obsessed with food, weight and body image. Eating disorders are most common among girls and women, although males may also be affected.

Identifying eating disorders

Identifying eating disorders in others can be challenging, since secrecy, shame and denial are characteristics of the disease. As a result, the illness can go undetected for long periods of time. If you suspect that you or someone you know has an eating disorder, seek help immediately. Eating disorders become increasingly dangerous, causing serious medical problems the longer they go untreated. In severe cases, eating disorders can be fatal.

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed when a person weighs at least 15% less than his or her normal body weight. People with anorexia nervosa often refuse food despite their hunger. People with anorexia nervosa tend to do very well in school, sports, work and other activities. Often, they try to be perfect. They may stop eating to feel like they have control of some part of their lives. Or, they may refuse to eat to "rebel" against their loved ones.

Symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa may include:

• Rapid weight loss over several weeks or months
• Continuing to diet even when thin
• Difficulty eating in public
• Preoccupation with food, calories, nutrition or cooking
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Feeling fat, even if underweight
• Inability to realistically assess own body weight
• Striving for perfection
• Undue influence of body weight or shape on self-esteem
• Depression, anxiety or irritability
• Infrequent or irregular menstrual periods in females
• Binge-eating and self-induced vomiting (purging)
• Laxative, diuretic or diet pill use
• Compulsive exercising
• Feeling worthless or hopeless
• Social withdrawal

Physical symptoms such as low tolerance of cold weather, brittle hair and nails, dry or yellowing skin, anemia, constipation, swollen joints and a new growth of thin hair over the body result over time as the person with anorexia nervosa develops the symptoms of starvation.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa can accompany anorexia nervosa, or appear by itself. People with bulimia nervosa differ than those with anorexia nervosa in that they frequently have severe eating binges at least twice a week for at least three months in a row. Binging is eating an amount of food that is far greater than what others would eat during the same short time period and circumstances.

After binging, a person with bulimia nervosa is prompted by fear of weight gain or stomach pain to purge by vomiting, using a laxative or diuretic, or exercising vigorously. People with bulimia nervosa are often compulsive and may binge and purge to cope with anxiety, anger or stress related to personal or family problems. Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include patterns of behavior to prevent weight gain such as:

• Binge-eating or uncontrollable eating
• Misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medications
• Fasting
• Secrecy regarding eating behaviors
• Frequent use of the bathroom after eating
• Depression or mood swings
• Chewing and spitting out food
• Preoccupation with food and weight
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Exercising obsessively to control weight
• Abusing alcohol or drugs
• Feeling anxious
• Intense feelings of guilt or shame