Eating Disorders and Signs that Your Loved One Might Have One

Many people don’t realize that it’s impossible to put all eating disorders into one nutshell. There are several types of eating disorders out there that your loved one might be suffering from.

Your loved one’s eating disorder needs to be diagnosed by your primary health care provider. However, there are quite a few signs and symptoms out there that you can look for if you suspect your loved one is suffering. Here are the three most common eating disorders and their symptoms.

Anorexia Nervosa: Skipping Meals 

One of the most common and well-known eating disorders is Anorexia Nervosa. One of the most common signs that your loved one may have this disorder is that they are constantly skipping meals.

With this disorder, there are other symptoms as well, such as rapid weight loss, poor skin and hair and, eventually, if the disorder is not caught in time, organ failure. If you suspect that your loved one is suffering from this disease, you need to get them professional help as soon as possible. Functional medicine doctors and other holistic practitioners can help them begin to heal, both emotionally and physically.

Bulimia Nervosa: Going to the Washroom Right After Every Meal 

Bulimia Nervosa, often just referred to as Bulimia, is another life-threatening disorder that is characterized by its victims purging after every meal. If you notice that your loved one is going to the washroom directly after every meal, then it is possible you need to have them checked for this deadly disorder.

People suffering from this disease typically make themselves vomit their food after eating. Whether they eat a normal meal, overeat, or eat a small snack, the one thing that is constant is the need to purge after eating. Getting your loved one help is essential, as there are many different therapies that can be tried with these patients to help them live a normal life.

Binge Eating Disorder: Overeating to the Point of Getting Sick

Binge eating, commonly called overeating, commonly refers to people who binge on unhealthy foods until the point of sickness. The person doing the binge eating usually feels depressed, sick, and ashamed of themselves directly after eating so much, but can’t seem to stop themselves. If you notice your loved one eating to the point that they make themselves sick, then it’s time to get them to your primary health care provider for the help they need.

Other Lesser Known Eating Disorders 

There are also other lesser known eating disorders that you might want to look for if you think your loved one has this disease.

• Anorexia Athletica is a disorder where the person has an unhealthy obsession with rushing to the gym to burn off any calories they have taken in.
• Night Eating Syndrome is when someone diets during the day but goes on an eating binge at night. Signs include your loved one craving high sugar snacks in the evenings, right before bed, and after midnight. This is dangerous because it increases their chances of developing diabetes.

These are just a few of the types of eating disorders that American’s are dealing with on a daily basis. There are many different causes and risk factors for these problems and the complications range from losing weight to eventually dying.

If you feel that your loved one is suffering from any of the above issues, please get them help somewhere. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away and though it could be hard to get them the help they need, the alternative is much worse than their brief anger at being confronted by you.