3 Subtle Signs of an Eating Disorder

Are you concerned that someone you love might have an eating disorder? While these conditions are linked to more deaths in the United States than any other psychiatric condition, their symptoms can be challenging to spot since those living with them often conceal the problem. 

What constitutes an eating disorder? In this blog, we’ll define eating disorders, highlight signs, and discuss treatment. Fortunately, appropriate treatment can help people recover from eating disorders.

Our caring provider team at Clarity Psychiatric Care helps people of all ages struggling with eating disorders. 

Each person’s condition is unique since our relationships with food differ. We approach your care compassionately, which is why patients entrust us with their care — and we’re honored that they do.

Eating disorders explained

An eating disorder is when a person develops a troubled relationship with food. However, because restrictive dieting, binging (eating significant quantities of food), and binging and purging (making yourself vomit) cause varied, serious health problems, living with an eating disorder is anything but harmless.

About 28.8 million Americans will grapple with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. While more women experience them than men, males constitute about one-third of eating disorder diagnoses. 

The major types of eating disorders include:

1. Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia develops when you believe you’re fat, even when you’re underweight, which causes you to severely restrict food.

You can become life-threateningly malnourished and underweight. You might also become constipated, exhausted, and feel constantly cold. 

Muscle wasting, osteoporosis, low blood pressure, and infertility are other serious consequences.

2. Bulimia nervosa 

Bulimia is when a person eats lots of food in a short time. Afterward, they feel plagued with guilt, disgusted, and possibly nauseated. Then, they make themselves throw up in an attempt to remedy the situation. 

In addition to vomiting, they might also abuse laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. 

People with bulimia develop health problems related to heavy vomiting, including increased tooth sensitivity, tooth 

decay, and sore throat. Additionally, they may experience acid reflux and digestive issues or notice swollen glands on their necks. Finally, dangerous dehydration can develop.

People with bulimia may not always make themselves vomit after binging. Instead, they may follow it up with compulsive exercising or drastic calorie restriction.

Eating disorder symptoms that can go unnoticed

The eating disorder symptoms we’ve outlined are hard to ignore because they’re either blatantly visible, like severe weight loss or dental problems, or show up medically, like when someone suddenly develops abnormal blood pressure or a sore throat.

However, it’s important to know that some symptoms are more subtle. 

1. Cooking but not eating

Have you noticed that a loved one loves cooking but never actually eats? This can be a sign of an eating disorder — being obsessed with food yet rejecting consuming it.

They may also talk about food frequently, but when it comes to sitting down and eating with people, they won’t. 

2. Ritualistic eating

When someone cuts food into tiny pieces, limits the types of food they eat, or eats the foods on their plate in a certain order, this may point to an eating disorder.

3. Concocting odd recipes

Developing strange recipes with unusual ingredient combinations can point to binge eating and bulimia.

At Clarity Psychiatric Care, we provide a personalized treatment plan with approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) (learning coping skills to correct inaccurate thought patterns), individual psychotherapy, and group or family therapy — or a combination of these. 

Nutrition counseling helps you begin to make healthy eating decisions.

Since eating disorders affect adolescents and young adults disproportionately due to factors like the recent COVID-19 pandemic and social media, we offer our Together Youth Mentoring Program, where young patients can connect with peer mentors who’ve dealt successfully with eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.

It’s essential to seek treatment if you or a loved one has an eating disorder. Call Clarity Psychiatric Care’s Cherry Hill, New Jersey, office at 856-428-1260 or book an appointment online.