6 Signs Your Loved One May Have an Eating Disorder

Let’s kick off this discussion with an alarming statistic — 9% of the population in the United States, or nearly 30 million people, will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Eating disorders tend to affect women ages 12-35 more than any other group.

Unfortunately, recognizing an eating disorder can be challenging in a world that's fixated on dieting and body shape, but it’s not impossible.

If you suspect a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, our team of mental health specialists at Point of View Mental Health in Scottsdale, Arizona, wants to help. Here, we’ve pulled together some subtle and not-so-subtle signs that an eating disorder might be present.

A quick word about eating disorders

Before we get into the potential signs of an eating disorder, we want to examine what we’re up against. Eating disorders can present themselves in different ways and include:

• Anorexia nervosa — self-starvation
• Bulimia nervosa — eating large amounts of food followed by behaviors like vomiting and/or taking laxatives
• Binge eating disorder — eating large quantities of food in one sitting
• Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder — extreme picky eating
• Pica — ingesting non-food objects
• Rumination disorder — regurgitation and rechewing

These descriptions are very basic, and we’re happy to share more details with you. We just want to make clear that eating disorders come in many different forms.

Obvious and subtle signs of disordered eating

Now, let’s get into some hallmark behaviors people display when they have an eating disorder. People of all body shapes and sizes can have an eating disorder, so don’t base your assessment on size alone. Here are some signs that might point toward an eating disorder:

1. Obsessing about their weight

People with eating disorders are often singularly obsessed with their weight and diet. They might always be on a diet and spend more time than necessary counting calories and weighing themselves.

2. Eliminating meals or food groups

A common behavior among people who have an eating disorder is eliminating entire food groups such as carbs, sugars, or fats. They might skip meals entirely and often make excuses for not eating.

3. Talking about their body in a negative way

If your loved one talks a good deal about their body, and never in a positive light, this is a common behavior associated with eating disorders. In extreme cases, people can claim to be fat when they're grossly underweight, which is a type of body dysmorphia.

4. Physical changes

If you notice frequent fluctuations in your loved one’s weight, this could point toward an eating disorder. Less obvious physical changes that can indicate an eating disorder include:

• Poor skin tone
• Brittle hair and nails
• Irregular menstruation in girls
• Dental issues
• Anemia
• Weakness
• Dizziness and fainting

There are more, but be on the lookout for health issues that, when you add them up, might be rooted in nutritional issues.

5. Leaving the table quickly

If your loved one leaves the table quickly and disappears without explanation, this is a sign they might be purging their food.

6. Hiding food

If you find evidence of your loved one hiding food in their room, car, and so on, this could indicate an issue with eating.

This list is far from complete, but it’s enough to get you started in your investigation of your loved one’s eating behaviors.

If you have more questions about eating disorders or would like some help with your loved one, we're just a phone call or click away. To get started, contact our office at 520-999-9114 or use our online booking tool. We also offer telemedicine services throughout the state of Arizona.