Symptoms

You don't have to be bone thin to have an eating disorder. You could be of normal weight or even heavy. But that doesn't make the eating disorder any less dangerous.

Most people with eating disorders don't have all the symptoms. Doctors have a category called "eating disorders not otherwise specified" for people who have serious problems with eating that disrupt their quality of life.

Also, someone can have several eating disorders, sometimes at one time or interchangeably. Eating disorders can ebb and flow, worsening when you are stressed or during bouts of depression. Almost 50 percent of people with anorexia develop bulimic symptoms, according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Some with bulimia develop anorexic symptoms.

Anorexia:

• Loss of a significant amount of weight.
• Refusal to maintain a healthy weight.
• Continuing to diet although thin.
• Feeling fat, even after losing weight.
• Poor self-esteem.
• Intense fear of weight gain.
• Loss of monthly menstrual periods.
• Preoccupation with food, calories, and nutrition.
• Preferring to diet secretly.
• Cooking for others, but not eating the food.
• Hair loss.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Fainting spells.
• Exercising compulsively.
• Lying about food.
• Depression, anxiety.
• Periods of hyperactivity.
• Constipation.
• Heart tremors.
• Dry, brittle skin.
• Shortness of breath.
• Ignoring hunger cues.

Bulimia:

• Feeling that you can't stop eating or control what or how much you are eating.
• Purging by strict dieting, fasting, vigorous exercise, vomiting, abusing laxatives, fasting or diuretics.
• Using the bathroom frequently after meals.
• Preoccupation with weight.
• Depression.
• Poor self-esteem.
• Mood swings.
• Feeling out of control.
• Swollen glands in neck and face.
• Heartburn.
• Bloating.
• Irregular periods.
• Dental problems.
• Constipation.
• Indigestion.
• Sore throat.
• Vomiting blood.
• Weakness, exhaustion.
• Bruised or callused knuckles, bloodshot or bleeding eyes, light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks.

Binge eating:

• Episodes of binge eating occurring at least two days a week for six months.
• May fit criteria for bulimia, but without purging.
• Eating when not physically hungry.
• Frequent dieting.
• Feeling unable to stop eating.
• Awareness that eating patterns are abnormal.
• Weight fluctuations.
• Depressed mood.
• Feeling ashamed.
• Antisocial behavior.

More on Eating Disorders

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.