Whether you have a teenage daughter suddenly dropping weight and expressing touchy or odd behavior, or a grown sister who just does not seem right when it comes to food, recognizing the symptoms of anorexia and bulimia which could be right under your nose can often be difficult. Yet, it could save the life of someone you love.
What makes the situation to hard to come to terms with is that you don't want to think of something like bulimia or anorexia happening to what is otherwise a well rounded, beautiful, individual. You may also feel extremely uncomfortable with the idea of having to approach this person with your belief that he/she may be hurting unintentionally.
There are some common signs of an eating disorder that everyone should be aware of. More and more people are becoming victims of anorexia, bulimia, and binge disorders. It is affecting not only teenaged girls but women of all ages and a lot of men as well.
One of the most noticeable signs of an eating disorder is the obsession of food or weight in general. If you notice someone who constantly makes remarks about being "fat" or weighs him/her self too often, that person may be struggling with an unhealthy mentality that often leads to or accompanies a physical eating disorder. It can also be evident if the person is extremely strict about what they eat, or goes to extreme measures with food, such as weighing food before consuming it.
Another symptom is the person's bathroom habits. If they disappear into the bathroom directly after food consumption they may be purging their meal. You may hear the water running as a mask for the sound of throwing up. Similarly, if they are just always in the bathroom and seem to have stomach discomfort they may be abusing laxatives.This is known as the bulimia eating disorder.
Yet another symptom of an eating disorder is hidden food or finding a lot of empty food packages that you know no one else consumed. Binge eaters will do it in private and they will eat thousands of calories at a time. They may also hide food or even steal food from others in the house. There is often a great sense of depression associated with a binge. Some people will go so far as to weigh their food before eating it, and then weighing their vomit afterward to determine how much of the food they were able to expel; the goal being to remain the same weight..
You may have a gut feeling that a loved on is suffering with some form of eating disorder, and the chances are that you're right. The best thing you can do is to confront the person with your observations and encourage a truthful response. Be aware that many who suffer from an eating disorder (especially in the cases of teenage eating disorders) will likely lie or make excuses to keep from being found out, so a bit of perseverance may be required on your part.
What makes the situation to hard to come to terms with is that you don't want to think of something like bulimia or anorexia happening to what is otherwise a well rounded, beautiful, individual. You may also feel extremely uncomfortable with the idea of having to approach this person with your belief that he/she may be hurting unintentionally.
There are some common signs of an eating disorder that everyone should be aware of. More and more people are becoming victims of anorexia, bulimia, and binge disorders. It is affecting not only teenaged girls but women of all ages and a lot of men as well.
One of the most noticeable signs of an eating disorder is the obsession of food or weight in general. If you notice someone who constantly makes remarks about being "fat" or weighs him/her self too often, that person may be struggling with an unhealthy mentality that often leads to or accompanies a physical eating disorder. It can also be evident if the person is extremely strict about what they eat, or goes to extreme measures with food, such as weighing food before consuming it.
Another symptom is the person's bathroom habits. If they disappear into the bathroom directly after food consumption they may be purging their meal. You may hear the water running as a mask for the sound of throwing up. Similarly, if they are just always in the bathroom and seem to have stomach discomfort they may be abusing laxatives.This is known as the bulimia eating disorder.
Yet another symptom of an eating disorder is hidden food or finding a lot of empty food packages that you know no one else consumed. Binge eaters will do it in private and they will eat thousands of calories at a time. They may also hide food or even steal food from others in the house. There is often a great sense of depression associated with a binge. Some people will go so far as to weigh their food before eating it, and then weighing their vomit afterward to determine how much of the food they were able to expel; the goal being to remain the same weight..
You may have a gut feeling that a loved on is suffering with some form of eating disorder, and the chances are that you're right. The best thing you can do is to confront the person with your observations and encourage a truthful response. Be aware that many who suffer from an eating disorder (especially in the cases of teenage eating disorders) will likely lie or make excuses to keep from being found out, so a bit of perseverance may be required on your part.
About the Author:
If you would like to learn more about the symptoms and treatment of eating disorders, please visit eatingdisorderssymptoms.com.
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