“Do I have an eating disorder?” You may have asked that question lately due to certain behaviors, emotions, or feelings you have toward food. If you believe that you have a problem,
eating disorder recovery groups can help you identify your mental health disorder and get you on the road to recovery.
Common eating disorders include:
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating
- Pica (eating non-food items)
- Rumination disorder
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
While each of these disorders is caused by different factors and exhibits a variety of signs, there are some common symptoms that you can look for to identify if you have an eating problem. Do I have an eating disorder? Let’s take a closer look at the question below.
Do I Have an Eating Disorder? Signs to Look For
Few people have a perfect relationship with food. Many individuals are guilty of overeating, undereating, or merely maintaining an unhealthy diet. However, there is a distinct difference between eating unhealthily and having an eating disorder. Below are some signs that you or someone else may have an eating disorder, including:
Hiding Your Eating
You may recognize that refraining from eating, throwing up after eating, or binge eating is not normal or healthy. As such, you may become embarrassed by your habits or your condition. Therefore, you may attempt to hide your food or eat in isolation to avoid scrutiny from those around you.
Developing Unhealthy Eating Rituals
Dieticians and food experts often suggest that establishing a routine is a healthy way to eat. However, if you find that you are unwilling to eat outside of an established routine, you may have developed an unhealthy eating ritual. A ritual can govern what you eat, how you eat, or when you eat, causing you to become obsessed with the routine.
Fluctuations in Weight
Weight is the central focus of many eating disorders. If you have a problem with eating, you may notice that your weight gain constantly fluctuates by several pounds. It is possible to lose or gain ten pounds within ten to fourteen days when you have a disorder. This can cause numerous health problems and heighten your risk of fatality.
Body Dysmorphia
Whether you are eating too much or not eating enough, you may be overly concerned with the way your body looks. Furthermore, you may be obsessed with perceived flaws in your physical appearance – even if those flaws do not exist. Body dysmorphia is a leading symptom of an eating disorder.
Constant Changes in Diet
Do you find yourself experimenting with your diet all of the time? Are you continually eliminating food from your diet or gravitating to the latest dieting trend? This is a symptom that you may have a disorder. You may want to assess if you remove food from our diet to maintain control over your body.
Health Problems
Having control over your eating may give you a sense of empowerment at first. However, it’s not long before you start experiencing health problems. Common problems associated with eating disorders include low body temperature, fainting, stomach problems, hair problems, heart attacks or strokes, bruising, and exhaustion or fatigue.
Avoidance and Isolation
Like any other addiction, you may eventually become obsessed with eating food or avoiding food. This often leads to feelings of isolation. You may feel that no one understands your problems. Therefore, it is better to deal with it on your own. However,
eating disorder treatment offers support so that you don’t have to feel alone.
Get Help for Eating Disorders Today
Do I have an eating disorder? Learn more about your condition today. If you are currently struggling with an eating disorder,
mental health treatment can help you overcome your addiction and get on the road to recovery. To find out more about your eating disorder treatment options, contact a local mental health treatment center in your area.