Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs

Below Are Side Effects of Anorexia, Bulimia and Binging

Oct 8, 2007 Lori Henry

Eating disorder symptoms and warning signs are many. Find below some side effects of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating that might help reveal a health problem.

In order to prevent eating disorders, we must know their symptoms. There are early warning signs, side effects and indications that a loved one is on the slippery road to anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder or EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).

Below is a list of the most common warning signs that may lead to a full blown eating disorder.

Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs

• An impulsive focus on healthy food and nutrition
• A sudden interest in reading food labels to check fat grams and calories
• Avoiding fat and becoming increasingly picky about what he/she chooses to eat
• Starting diets to lose weight or become “healthier”
• An unexpected choice to be a vegetarian
• Refusing to eat dessert
• Skipping meals (most often breakfast)
• Lying about the foods they’ve eaten when they’ve eaten and how much they’ve eaten
• Worrying about their weight and being dissatisfied with how they look
• Drinking excessive amounts of water or liquid that have no calories (in order to feel full)
• Poor concentration

Anorexia Symptoms and Warning Signs

• Significant weight loss
• A denial of how much weight they’ve lost or how thin they’ve become
• Being cold all the time (sometimes a need to wear layers of clothing to stay warm and disguise their thinning body)
• Extensive hair loss (can be seen on pillows, in the shower and in hair brushes)
• Fine hair growing on body and face (called Lanugo), which is protecting the body
• Dizziness and fainting
• A desire to cook for others but not eat any of it
• A yellow-ish skin tone from poor liver function

Bulimia Symptoms and Warning Signs

• Having constant stomach problems (ie. flues, aches and pains, poor digestion, heartburn)
• Complaining of a sore throat, hoarseness and trouble swallowing
• A sudden sensitivity to all sort of foods
• Swollen cheeks and a puffy face from purging
• A stash of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills or even poison
• Bloodshot eyes and/or red spots around the eyes from self-induced vomiting
• A redness around the mouth and on the back of the hands from purging
• A dental report with a high number of cavities when they were relatively healthy before
• Weight fluctuation from binging and starving

Binge Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs

• Usually on a dieting roller coaster or chronically dieting
• Episodes of out of control eating when the person wants to stop but can’t
• Stealing food from grocery stores or emptying the household cupboards
• Eating in secret to avoid the shame of not being able to stop
• Eating even when not hungry
• Emotional eating when angry, upset, frustrated, overwhelmed or sad
• Eating rapidly without tasting or experiencing the food
• After eating, feeling overly stuffed instead of comfortably full
• Not knowing when to stop eating, nor being able to

The copyright of the article Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs in Eating Disorders is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Eating Disorder Symptoms and Warning Signs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Baking for Others But Not Eating

Binge Eating on Sweets and Carbs

Restricting Food and Dieting to Lose Weight

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Comments

Oct 1, 2008 6:05 PM

Guest :

Absolutely great information. It was very clear. I have many of these issues and wonder why they come in seasons? I noticed with me, I would rely on other things to tell me my progress like the scale, comments and clothes size.Don't focus too much on your mirror image, focus on how you want to feel.

Oct 18, 2008 2:25 PM

Guest :

Great order of symptoms, yes. But can someone direct me to the long term physical consequences of eating disorders? specifically bulimia??

Nov 30, 2008 7:44 PM

Guest :

i was bullimic i wish i would have had family members watching for these signs...its NEVER worth it and its NEVER easy to stop! I havent purged in close to a year buti still see the damage i did from only afew months in my hair and nails. there is always a consequence!

Dec 10, 2008 12:35 PM

Guest :

-Im doing a documentary on Drug Addicts/Users,People with Eating Disorders of any form,People Who have been Mentally or Physically Abused or have been the Abuser,People who are Self Distructive(Cutters,Burners,Etc..), or Ppl with any other form of Addictions such as Sex,Shopping,Etc...If your going through it,Have Overcome it,Helped someone through it or Etc..I want to know what is screaming on the inside that needs to be told/released, or maybe you feel the world needs to know."Your stories,Your Reason, Your Emotions, Etc...
-This is a documentary,anything that you send me will become my property an by sending it to me is your release saying I can use it in any form, and in my documentary.Your Name will never be released in anything.
-If you would like to send cards,pictures, or anything that will help you release the emotion or whatever it is that is holding the sadness or anger Please feel free to do so..But Please explain the story behind "it". This is all about helping you and others.
-Add Everyone you know to this group, and Please spread the word about this. You Never Know who is in need of a good talk, it could save a life or two. Everyone has a story and I would Love to listen to you and yours. "The best form of letting go is Speaking Out!!" I hope to hear from you all Very soon!!
My contacts:
Email: listening2you@live.com
Mail: P.O. Box 191091 Atlanta, Georgia 31119

Dec 18, 2008 10:35 AM

Guest :

I was bulimic once for not a long period of time. I would say for a little over 2 months but now started noticing the symptoms, but i have already stop. The symptoms that has been posted are true though. I didn't think that 2 months of bulimic would harm but i guess it does too. Sometimes I feel like i want to go back and be Bulimic again bc my cousins and friends started to notice that i looked thinner and right now i am binge eating bc of alot of low self-esteem, depression, and stress and i've actually gain more weight before i was bulimic. I know that being bulimia is bad but that's the easiest way for me to lose weight faster. I don't know if i want to go back though bc i'm scare of erosions in my teeth.

Jan 4, 2009 7:58 PM

Guest :

i dont have an eating disorder, but i have a ton of these symptoms. But its not like i have an ed or anything.

Jan 5, 2009 1:32 AM

Guest :

i am dealing with bulimia for a year now ... please i suggest nobody wver thinking about beeing bulimic to loose weight . it totally abused my life and i am powerless to w=overcome this ... pls nobody try this !

Feb 4, 2009 1:09 PM

Guest :

I was anorexic 8 years ago and for the last 5 years I have been bulimic - I still do it now but I have calmed down a bit -but I'm really fat and I hardly eat anything - I think I have messed up my metabolism. I eat lots of candy sweets to curb my appetite then eat a soup in the evening but I still can't lose weight so I purge after I have the soup

Feb 13, 2009 8:35 AM

Guest :

good information it makes it more clear on why i was told that i have bulimia thanks for the tips and ill be trying to change this stuff about me

Apr 24, 2009 11:42 AM

Guest :

Im currently in EDNOS after a weight gain from anorexia and slowly falling back in, it is horrible, but after this and family reading and noticing I am getting help... I would reccommend people to use this list if they have fears of a family member

Jun 15, 2009 2:12 PM

Guest :

i need to know whats happening to me i go days without the need or want to eat then days later i binge on everything for 2 to 3 days untill i feel sick is this an eating disorder of some type? please help me

Jul 14, 2009 3:00 PM

Guest :

im 37 female, sufferring from an eating disorder since i was a teen, been in treatment for little over a year now, i go once a month to consuling, i have come a long way but i go back n forth, i understand life more n what has caused me to turn to food like i do, but still struggle with this eating disorder n it is so hard i just get so frustrated that i cant be cured right now! so frustrated, wish i had someone with the same eating disorder to talk too! xo

Jul 16, 2009 3:41 PM

Guest :

i think im anorexic i have all of the signs and symptoms. nothing bad has been happening yet. but i have no idea what to do. i dont want to gain any weight but i dont want any long term damage to my body. this information on in this article is very helpful. i need help.

Aug 26, 2009 7:51 AM

Guest :

what's wrong with me? Sometimes u go days without eatting. But then I eat healthy again. Or I will just eat for example a price of cheesecake and play tennis for hours or something. I am not koosing weight though. I want to loose weight a lot. I am 10 pounds over weight acorsding to bmi charts. I run track at school and cheer ad play tennis as well. I feel fat, I am fat and not just saying that I really am actually ten pounds over weight. All I do is think about food and feel bad after. Am I just weird because I don't have anorexia, bulimia, or bindge/purge. What is wrong with me?

Jan 14, 2010 4:13 PM

Guest :

i think the article is good for these people. but im wondering if having anorexia bulimia nervosa and many disorder can affect you period being missed and if it can affect being on sports teams like soccer or track. please reply to starstruck38@yahoo.com for the awnsers thank you.

Jan 20, 2010 5:46 PM

Guest :

I struggle with an extreme cycle of starving and binging. Lately I've noticed a yellow tint in the skin around my eyes. When I read that it could be a warning sign of poor liver function I got scared; but I can't stop. Ever since I lost weight and my friends compliment me I constanty diet. When I eat and feel overly full I feel guilty and angry. I don't make myself throw up becase when I try to it feels like someone is stabbing me in the gut. All this for a flat stomach?

Jan 27, 2010 1:15 PM

Guest :

so many wannrexics on this site.

why would you want this?

Feb 3, 2010 10:38 PM

Guest :

I think this article had some good information. I suffered from bulimia for only about 6 months due to low self-esteem and depression. I had many of these symptoms. I havent perged for about 9 months now but my hair is still much thinner and I just went to the dentist and found out that I had 8 cavities because my enamel is so warn down. Even though I dont perge anymore i still constantly think and worry about food. Lately I have been doing better by making sure that I eat a couple of small meals a day and trying to do things to help me feel good about myself. Hang in there everyone with an eating disorder, it is very hard but possible to overcome.

Feb 4, 2010 9:37 AM

Guest :

Good Information but I would like alot more on binge eating. I wiegh 359 lbs and in need of help . I have thought about the wieght loss surgery but my insurance wont pay for it. And I dont have the money to. So I try to control my eating but cant. If you have any suggestions please write to me. anniepie1958@yahoo.com

Feb 4, 2010 9:30 PM

Guest :

I think this article had some good information. I suffered from bulimia for only about 6 months due to low self-esteem and depression. I had many of these symptoms. I havent perged for about 9 months now but my hair is still much thinner and I just went to the dentist and found out that I had 8 cavities because my enamel is so warn down. Even though I dont perge anymore i still constantly think and worry about food. Lately I have been doing better by making sure that I eat a couple of small meals a day and trying to do things to help me feel good about myself. Hang in there everyone with an eating disorder, it is very hard but possible to overcome.

20 Comments