lunes, 17 de diciembre de 2018

Eating Disorder Symptoms

Download PDF Copy

By Ananya Mandal, MDReviewed by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Cantab)

There are various symptoms and complications that are related to different eating disorders, all of which vary according to the severity of the eating disorder.

Bulimia Without Anorexia

Bulimia nervosa, which is more commonly referred to as bulimia, involves recurrent bing eating episodes that can be followed by a period of fasting (bulimia with anorexia), self-induced vomiting, excessive use of either laxatives, diuretics or other medications and/or exercise. Bulimia without anorexia, otherwise referred to as purging type, accounts for a majority of bulimia patients. As a result of self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging, bulimic individuals may exhibit various physical signs and symptoms.

Image Credit: VGstockstudio / Shutterstock

Behavioral Symptoms

Sudden episodes of eating or purchasing large amounts of food
Evidence of use of certain medications:
- Laxatives
- Diet pills
- Emetics (drugs that induce vomiting)
- Diuretics (medications that reduce fluids)
Using the bathroom right after meals on a regular basis.
- Bathroom visits may be unusually long
Eats in private
Eats a restrictive diet
Binge episodes are usually on high-fat, high-carbohydrate and high-sugar “junk” foods
Behavioral problems like shoplifting, binge spending, alcohol or drug use and/or sexual promiscuity
Decline in work and school attendance
Short lasting relationships
Perfectionist behaviors
Excessive exercising
Extreme fluid intake

Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms

Preoccupation with food
Difficulty performing daily tasks
- Concentrating
- Decision making
- Rigid thinking
Fear about intimacy in personal relationships
Anxiety
Depression
Anger
Irritable
Defiant or stubborn with or without mood swings
Feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, loneliness and low self esteem
Fear of weight gain
Withdrawal from family and friends after meals

Physical Symptoms

Broad fluctuations of weight
Evidence of red eyes
- Occurs as a result of broken eye blood vessels during the strain of vomiting
Dental Effects (result from excessive acid exposure from forced vomiting episodes)
- Erosion of the tooth enamel
- Cavities in the teeth
- Gum diseases
Hand (Knuckle) Injuries (result from self-induced vomiting)
- “Russel’s Sign”
  - Cuts
  - Calluses
  - Scars
Dehydration
Fainting spells
Dizziness
Hand tremors
Blurred vision
Dry mouth
Swollen parotid and/or salivary glands
- Pouch-like appearance to the corners of the mouth
Rashes and pimples
Loss of, or irregular, menstrual periods
Hypertension
Edema (swelling)
Sore and/or irritated throat
Esophagitis
Electrolyte imbalance3

Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa, which is more commonly referred to as anorexia, is characterized by dramatic weight loss that results from severe restriction in food intake. Aside from the emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with anorexia, the physical signs and symptoms of this eating disorder often occur as a result of starvation.

Behavioral Symptoms

Severe dieting
- Restrictive dieting
- Binge-eating
- Purging
Individuals maintain detailed food diaries and records
- Food quantity
- Weight
- Fat grams
Excessive exercising along with severely restrictive dieting
Refusal to eat in front of others
Refusal to eat certain foods
- Can profress to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g., no carbohydrates)
Ritualistic eating habits
- Cutting food into small pieces
- Avoiding certain foods
- Eats foods in certain orders
- Excessive chewing
- Rearranging food on a plate
Reactivity and hypersensitivity to cold
Excessive heavy clothing to prevent from being cold and from the thinness being apparent
Shop for groceries and prepare food for others, but avoids eating
Food hoarding
Social withdrawal
Unrealistic perfectionist behaviors
Denies feeling hungry

Physical Symptoms

Dramatic weight loss
Menstrual irregularities (women)
- Long periods without menstrual periods
- Delay in onset of menses in young girls
- Amenorrhea
Hair loss from scalp
Yellow tone to skin.
- Especially evident on palms of the hands and soles of the feet
- Occurs as a result of eating too many vitamin A-rich vegetables (e.g., carrots)
Dry skin covered with fine hair
Dry and brittle nails
Sleep problems
Muscle weakness
Swollen feet and hands
- Can be accompanied with cold or mottled hands or feet
Bloating after eating and digestive problems
Impaired immune system
Abnormal laboratory test results
- Anemia
- Low thyroid levels
- Low hormone levels
- Low potassium
- Low blood cell count
- Slowed heart rate
Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Stomach cramps
- Constipation
- Acid reflux

Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms

Confused or slowed thinking
Poor memory or judgment
Conversations and projects revolving around food and weight loss
Indecisive
Inflexible thinking
Beliefs regarding thinness equating to happiness
Severe self-control
Anxiety
Depressionn
Angry
Stubbornness
Mood swings
Feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, ineffectiveness and loneliness
Low self-esteem
Incapability to adjust to changes of routines
Severe fear of weight gain
Refusal to believe anything is wrong
Denial for need for help
- May become sulky, angry or defensive when concern is expressed
- Denies feeling hungry
Withdrawal from social activities
- More isolated
- Secretive
- Limited social spontaneity