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1 min read
Eating disorders tend to develop during adolescence and young adulthood, and are much more common in girls and women. No one knows the exact cause of eating disorders, but they seem to coexist with psychological and medical problems such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, difficulty managing emotions, and substance abuse.
For some people, an obsession with food becomes a way to control an aspect of their lives. Although it may start as simply eating a little more or less than usual, the behavior can get out of control and dominate the person's life. Eating disorders are a serious medical problem that can have long-term health consequences if left untreated.
It is common for people with eating disorders to hide their unhealthy behaviors, making it difficult to recognize the signs of an eating disorder, especially at the beginning.
Keep in mind that you cannot necessarily determine if someone has an eating disorder just by how they look, including their size. Symptoms vary depending on the disorder and will not all appear at once. Similarly, warning signs vary by eating disorder and do not always fit neatly into categories. Therefore, this list aims to provide a general overview of the types of behaviors that may indicate a problem:
An eating disorder can be difficult to manage or overcome on your own. The sooner you receive treatment, the more likely you are to fully recover. Sometimes, people may have problematic eating behaviors that are similar to some symptoms of an eating disorder, but these symptoms do not meet the criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis. However, these problematic eating behaviors can still seriously affect health and well-being. If you have problematic eating behaviors that cause you distress or affect your life or health, or if you believe you have an eating disorder, we recommend reaching out to health professionals to evaluate your case.