Eating disorders

Do you or someone in your life have an eating disorder? The more you understand about this condition, the better you can manage it or support someone you love. Learn about the condition, the different types, signs and symptoms and treatment options.

What is an eating disorder?

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a serious mental and physical illness that any person, at any stage of life, can experience. It’s a condition that involves a complex and unhealthy relationship with things like:

Food
Eating
Exercise
Body image

For common eating disorders, such as anorexia or bulimia, people may focus too much on their weight, body shape and food. This then leads to dangerous eating habits, which can prevent their body from getting proper nutrition.

Over time, this can also affect the heart, digestive system, bones and teeth and mouth. It can even lead to other diseases.

Some types of eating disorders include:

What are the signs and symptoms?

Different types of eating disorders have different symptoms. Each condition involves an extreme focus on issues related to food and eating. And some involve a focus on weight. This obsession with food and weight may make it hard for the person to focus on other parts of their life.

Certain emotional and behavioral symptoms may show that a person is struggling with eating disorder beliefs or behaviors.

A person with an eating disorder may show a combination of these habits or symptoms:

Beliefs, patterns, and choices that show a focus on weight loss, dieting, food rules or eating patterns
Extreme mood swings
Trouble concentrating
Checking oneself in the mirror often

Withdrawing from others or refusing to socialize, especially when food is involved
Being hyper-focused on weight, food, calories or nutritional content of food
Eating alone or hiding food
Skipping meals
Intense fear of gaining weight

Distorted body image

A malnourished brain and body cannot function well. A person struggling with an eating disorder may present with at least some, if not all, of these physical signs of an eating disorder:

Changes in weight that occur quickly

Severe constipation
Low blood pressure
Slowed breathing and pulse
Increased tiredness
Brittle or thinning hair and nails

Dry, yellowish skin
Loss of periods (amenorrhea)
Growth of soft hair all over body
Stomach or digestion issues
Dizziness, fainting or lightheadedness

Muscle weakness
Weakened immune system

More studies are needed, but experts believe many factors may be involved in causing eating disorders. These include:

Genetics. A person is at greater risk of having an eating disorder if a close family member, such as a parent or a sibling, has also had one.
Emotional health. Perfectionism, impulsive behavior and difficult relationships can all contribute to lowering a person’s self-esteem. These personality traits are often linked to developing eating disorders.
Peer pressure. Pressure can appear in the form of teasing or bullying because of size or weight. A history of physical or sexual abuse can also contribute to some people developing an eating disorder.
Environment. A person might be affected by cultural preferences for thinness and exposure to media promoting these ideals.

If you have an eating disorder, identifying the condition and seeking treatment sooner will improve your chances of getting healthy. Being aware of the warning signs and symptoms can help you decide whether you need to seek help.

Find support

If certain symptoms resonate with you and you think you may have an eating disorder, reach out for help. You can find support, resources and treatment options for yourself or someone you know. These include medical professionals, recovery support groups and others in your community. Just contact the National Eating Disorders Association helpline to get started.

Making the decision to start eating disorder recovery might feel scary or overwhelming. But seeking help sooner can make recovery easier.

What are some treatment options?

What are some treatment options?

A person’s treatment plan is based on their own unique needs. It may include a combination of multiple therapies. Treatment will usually involve talk therapy, as well as regular health checks with a doctor.

It’s best to seek treatment early for eating disorders, as the risk of medical issues and suicide is high.

Some treatment options include:

Individual, group or family psychotherapy. A type of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be recommended to help reduce or stop disordered behavior such as binge eating, purging and restricting. CBT involves learning how to recognize and change distorted or unhelpful thought patterns.
Medications. A doctor may recommend treatment with medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics or mood stabilizers. These can help treat an eating disorder or other conditions that may occur at the same time, such as depression or anxiety.

Nutritional counseling. This involves working with a dietitian to learn proper nutrition and eating habits. It may also involve restoring or managing a person’s weight if they’ve gone through extreme weight changes. Studies suggest that combining nutritional therapy with cognitive therapy may improve treatment outcomes by a lot.

How can you support someone with an eating disorder?

Do you think someone in your life has an eating disorder? If yes, then you’ll want to support and encourage them to seek help from a health care professional.

Seeking help can be extremely challenging for someone living with an eating disorder. Know that you can still help them feel supported and cared for in their recovery.

Recovering from an eating disorder can take a long time. This person may have periods of relapsing and going back into old behaviors, especially during times of stress. If you’re close to this person, it’s helpful to be there for them, and to be patient, throughout their recovery.

Listen to them. Taking time to listen to their thoughts can help them feel heard, respected and supported. Even if you don’t agree with what they say, it’s best that they know you’re there for them and that they have someone to confide in.
Include them. You can reach out and invite them to activities and social events. Or ask if they want to hang out one-on-one. Even if they do not want to be social, you’ll want to check in and invite them anyway. This will help them feel valued and less alone.
Build their self-esteem. Make sure they know that they are loved and appreciated. Focus on nonphysical reasons. Remind them why you are their friend and why they matter to you.