Identifying Eating Disorders: A Closer Look at Anorexia, Bulimia, and Binge Eating Disorder
Eating disorders have rigid diagnostic criteria that often end up excluding individuals who need support. Whether or not you’ve been diagnosed with an eating disorder, Emma can help in working through the thoughts and behaviors of this mental health illness that can impact our physical and emotional health.
Below are a list of conditions Emma has experience guiding individuals to work through.
Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating, and Bulimia Nervosa
Understanding the signs and symptoms of eating disorders is crucial for early detection and intervention. Here’s a breakdown of the key indicators for Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, and Bulimia Nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa
Food Restriction: Limiting or severely restricting food intake.
Excessive Exercise: Engaging in intense physical activity to burn calories.
Food Rituals: Following strict eating patterns, such as eating in a specific order, over-chewing, or rearranging food on the plate.
Avoidance of Certain Foods: Refusing to consume foods from specific categories, especially those high in fat.
Concealment of Weight Loss: Wearing layers or baggy clothing to hide weight loss.
Body Checking: Frequently assessing weight or body shape.
Fear of Weight Gain: Intense anxiety about gaining weight or becoming fat.
Emotional Dysregulation: Difficulty managing emotions.
Perfectionism: Rigid and obsessive thinking patterns.
Denial of Illness: Lack of acknowledgment regarding the severity of low weight or health status.
Medical Complications: Potential issues like loss of menstruation, fainting, anemia, reduced bone density, and weakened immune function.
Binge Eating Disorder
Recurrent Binge Episodes: Consuming large amounts of food in a short time frame, significantly more than what is typical.
Loss of Control: Inability to stop binge eating once it begins.
Eating in Secret: Tendency to eat alone to hide the quantity consumed.
Post-Binge Feelings: Experiencing guilt, disgust, and depression after binge episodes.
Avoidance of Emotions: Difficulty acknowledging or processing bodily sensations and emotions.
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating and Compensatory Behaviors: Engaging in recurrent binge episodes followed by extreme measures to prevent weight gain.
Purging Methods: Inducing vomiting, using diuretics, or laxatives.
Non-Purging Methods: Fasting, excessive exercise, or omitting insulin in diabetics.
Weight Fluctuations: Noticeable changes in weight.
Physical Signs: Calluses on knuckles from vomiting, bloating due to fluid retention.
Medical Complications: Issues such as fainting, suppressed immune function, poor wound healing, irregular menstrual cycles, thinning hair, brittle nails, abnormal lab values, and slow heart rate.
If you identify with any of these signs and symptoms, consider taking a screening assessment available through the National Eating Disorders Association website. Early intervention can make a significant difference in recovery. You can also scheudle a call with Emma to learn more about the type of support you can receive through nutrition therapy.
