Eating disorders are usually characterized by an intense preoccupation with food. Many people who have an eating disorder also express dissatisfaction with their body image.
Other symptoms are often specific to the individual condition.
Anorexia
Anorexia often stems from a distorted body image, which may result from emotional trauma, depression, or anxiety. Some people may view extreme dieting or weight loss as a way to regain control in their lives.
There are many different emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that can signal anorexia.
The physical symptoms can be severe and life-threatening. They include:
- severe weight loss
- insomnia
- dehydration
- constipation
- weakness and fatigue
- dizziness and fainting
- thinning and breaking hair
- bluish tinge to the fingers
- dry, yellowish skin
- inability to tolerate cold
- amenorrhea, or absence of menstruation
- downy hair on the body, arms, and face
- arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat
Someone with anorexia may exhibit certain behavioral changes before physical symptoms are noticeable. This includes:
- skipping meals
- lying about how much food they’ve eaten
- eating only certain “safe” — usually low-calorie — foods
- adopting unusual eating habits, like sorting food on the plate or cutting food into tiny pieces
- talking negatively about their body
- trying to hide their body with baggy clothes
- avoiding situations that could involve eating in front of other people, which can result in social withdrawal
- avoiding situations where their body would be revealed, like the beach
- extreme exercising, which may take the form of exercising for too long or too intensely, like an hour-long jog after eating a salad
Emotional symptoms of anorexia may increase as the disorder progresses. They include:
- poor self-esteem and body image
- irritability, agitation, or other mood changes
- social isolation
- depression
- anxiety
Bulimia
Someone with bulimia may develop an unhealthy relationship to food over time. They may get caught up in damaging cycles of binge eating and then panic about the calories they’ve consumed. This may lead to extreme behaviors to prevent weight gain.
There are two different types of bulimia. The attempts to purge are used to differentiate them. The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) now refers to attempts to purge as “inappropriate compensatory behaviors”:
- Purging bulimia. Someone with this type will regularly induce vomiting after binge eating. They may also misuse diuretics, laxatives, or enemas.
- Non-purging bulimia. Instead of purging, someone with this type may fast or engage in extreme exercise to prevent weight gain after a binge.
Many people with bulimia will experience anxiety because their eating behavior is out of control.
As with anorexia, there are many different emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that can signal bulimia.
The physical symptoms can be severe and life-threatening. They include:
- weight that increases and decreases in significant amounts, between 5 and 20 pounds in a week
- chapped or cracked lips due to dehydration
- bloodshot eyes, or eyes with busted blood vessels
- callouses, sores, or scars on the knuckles from inducing vomiting
- mouth sensitivity, likely due to eroding tooth enamel and receding gums
- swollen lymph nodes
Someone with bulimia may exhibit certain behavioral changes before physical symptoms are noticeable. This includes:
- constantly worrying about weight or appearance
- eating to the point of discomfort
- going to the bathroom immediately after eating
- exercising too much, especially after they’ve eaten a lot in one sitting
- restricting calories or avoiding certain foods
- not wanting to eat in front of others
Emotional symptoms may increase as the disorder progresses. They include:
- poor self-esteem and body image
- irritability, agitation, or other mood changes
- social isolation
- depression
- anxiety
More information: Anorexia vs. Bulimia – Differences, Symptoms, and Treatments