Everyone’s goal is to maintain a great health condition, and at the same time to take care of their body, so it can do its basic living functions. That’s why we are so obsessed with exercising, regular eating habits, healthy lifestyle, to the point we can overdo that, and cause some damage to our body. Many people have a bad image for their looks and appearance, and that’s the main reason why gym studios and diets exist. Also, psychology and medicine recognize a group of conditions under the cap of eating disorders, which refers to behavior related to an unhealthy relationship with the food.
As you know, we eat so we can keep the biological functions in a healthy balance. People need to take their nutrients, and the best way to do that is planning carefully what we eat, and how we eat that. Today, we are able to prepare different types of dishes, with exceptional combinations of fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. But, what happens when a person has very low self-confidence and a wrong image for their appearance? This article will help you recognize the main types of eating disorders, and how to recognize the symptoms:
Anorexia – it’s also known as anorexia nervosa, and it’s a result of excessive starving and a large amount of workout. The person is losing a lot of weight, and sometimes it’s too extreme because they are afraid of being fat.
Bulimia – in medicine and psychology is known as bulimia nervosa. The person is eating too much and then forcing themselves to throw up. In some cases, they can work out too much, thinking that it will lead to burning the calories they had with their huge meal. Visit parentingpod.com to know more.
Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder – that’s when the person eats very little, or they are completely avoiding some type of food. Sometimes it starts in childhood, and it’s caused by a badly prepared meal or some product we don’t like.
Binge overeating – the person has episodes of extreme eating, as they take thousands of calories per meal. The reasons behind it are almost always psychological, as a result of some stressful event for them.
And here are the symptoms that probably there is some eating disorder:
Table of Contents
1. The person is always on a diet
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Even though it seems like everything is fine with them, and they look really good, they are always on a diet. There is nothing bad in keeping healthy habits in your life, even after you lose weight, but if you become obsessed with what you eat, and the way it’s prepared and served, maybe there is some tiny eating disorder there.
2. Emotional overeating
When our body and mind are stressed, sometimes we can’t have control over our emotions, and we try to fix all of that with a huge portion of food, full of calories. According to oliverpyattcenters.com, the emotional background should be treated, so the person can stop eating a lot when something bad happens. This is one of the most difficult disorders to treat because no one can predict when the next eating episode will hit.
3. Losing an unhealthy amount of weight in a short period
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This is usually a sign of anorexia because the people think they are very fat and overweight, but the truth is they are losing too much weight, because they starve themselves, use laxatives, or even try to vomit every food they take. In most cases, their food consists of small amounts of ingredients that are low in calories, which leads to losing a lot of weight. According to dietitians, a completely healthy person can’t lose more than 2 kilograms per month. Everything above that is considered unhealthy losing weight.
4. They avoid eating outside with their friends
We all love the brunches with our friends, especially when they are followed by a nice talk. But, if someone is avoiding these gatherings for no reason, and at the same time you are worried that something is happening, it can be a sign of an eating disorder. For example, these persons don’t want to be seen rushing to the toilet right after they finished their meal. Also, they will avoid hanging out with friends for lunch, because probably someone will ask why they don’t eat, or why they are choosing only the greens from the plate.
5. Changes in their behavior
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Having a disorder is exhausting. When someone is starving, or force themselves to throw up, that behavior can lead to mood changes. Having a balanced intake of all the important nutrients is crucial for keeping your body and mind completely healthy. Your brain needs enough fats and proteins so it can work properly, and the same goes for the muscles, bones, and all the important tissues in your body. So, it’s pretty normal to be moody or irritable when your body is literally suffering from some particular type of food.
6. Health issues they didn’t have before
The eating disorders can lead to fatigue, constant tiredness, mood swings, but also more extreme signs like esophageal bleeding, or changed the appearance of the teeth. When someone is forcing throwing up, the acids can cause burning in the esophagus and throat, and even damaging the teeth. Other symptoms can include taking too many supplements, drinking laxatives, digesting issues, uneven skin tone, and so on.
Most of the time, these people are not aware they have a problem. Sometimes they are realizing that fact when it’s very late. Sadly, many persons who had eating disorders in the past, now are struggling with other health issues caused by it. When someone is having low-calorie intake and lack of nutrients, all the organs and tissues can’t work properly, which can lead to frightening problems, or even death, when the person can’t control their behavior.
If you see that you or someone you love have unhealthy eating patterns and habits, it’s always better to ask for professional help. The struggle is real and healing can take a lot of time. But, if it’s recognized early, it can easily be treated with a help of a nutritionist, psychologist, and a family doctor who will follow the whole healing process.
