10 Signs Of An Eating Disorder You Shouldn’t Ignore

Jul 03, 2018

More than 30 million people in the world have developed one type of eating disorder in their effort to stay thin and attractive. Many of these people didn’t even realize they had an eating disorder, often until it was too late! We have put together a list of warning signs that could mean you have an eating disorder. Read on to learn more.

You do not need to work out every day for hours at a time. Getting enough exercise is a wonderful way to lose any extra weight and to help your mood, but too much is not good for you. If you feel panicked at the thought of missing your workout, this could be a sign of an eating disorder.

It is normal to check out your body in the mirror to see if you have gained weight. It isn’t normal to do this a dozen times a day or fixate on yourself constantly. A person who is dealing with an eating disorder will check their bodies after every meal and at other times because they are so paranoid about weight gain.

Eating in front of family and friends becomes torture for someone dealing with an eating disorder. They wonder what they will think of the meal they order and if they think they are fat. They can’t relax and enjoy the company because they are too fixated on their thoughts.

 An eating disorder will cause physical problems to occur. If a person is not getting the right amount of nutrients from their food, they may start losing the hair on their heads and their nails will become brittle. They may also notice their skin is becoming flaky. Women may stop getting regular periods and some people even experience vision problems.

 Someone suffering from an eating disorder can’t stop thinking about food and their next meal. They are preoccupied with what they can and cannot eat, when they can eat it, how much they can eat, and who will see them eating. It’s like an endless radio show running in their minds.

 When a person is obsessed with what they will and will not eat, food becomes one of their biggest sources of pleasure. When this is all you can focus on, it could be a sign of an eating disorder. Everyone enjoys eating a good meal, but an obsession with food and how it tastes isn’t a good sign.

A cheat meal allows you to forget your diet and overeat anything you want. This can lead to bulimia, especially when the person decides they must purge their meal. They feel guilty and get rid of what they have eaten, only to do it again shortly after.

 Many people who suffer from an eating disorder love to cook and prepare meals for their loved ones. They enjoy reading recipe books and trying out new recipes for family and friends. However, they will barely eat what they have cooked. This may be a sign of an eating disorder.

 It is harder to stay warm when you have lost a lot of the fat on your body. A person with an eating disorder will usually always have a sweater or jacket with them, even in the hotter months.

 …but you still don’t want to eat. We receive signals from our bodies that tell us when we are hungry and when we are full. If a person ignores their own signals too often, they can disrupt those signals and end up with unhealthy eating behaviors.

What are your thoughts on food? Tell us about them in the comments and pass this on to your friends and loved ones.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!