Signs and Symptoms of Common Eating Disorders 

If for any reason you believe you or someone you care about may be struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. Linked at the bottom of the page is an additional screening tool available from the National Eating Disorder Association 

Binge Eating Disorder

Regularly eating far more food than most people would in a similar time period
  • Criteria for "regular binge eating"- the occurances must take place at least once per week for three months
  • The time period during which binge eating instances take place can vary by individual, but is generally considered to be less than two hours and does not have to be in one setting
  • Feeling that one's eating is out of control during a binge
    • The feeling of not being in control can be either the inability to keep from starting to eat or the inability to stop eating once a binge eating episode has begun
    • Binge eating instances that include three or more of the following:
  • Eating extremely fast
  • Eating beyond feeling full
  • Eating large amounts of food when not hungry
  • Eating alone to hide how much one is eating
  • Feeling emotionally and physically uncomfortable after a binge
Unlike people with other eating disorders, adults with B.E.D. don't routinely try to "undo" their excessive eating with extreme actions like throwing up or over-exercising

Anorexia Nervosa 

  • Significant weight loss in a short period of time. 
  • Intense fear of being "fat" or becoming "fat" despite normal body weight and/or significant weight loss. 
  • Obsession/preoccupation with food, weight loss, calorie counts, fat grams, etc. to the extent that conversations and other activities revolve around these topics. 
  • Absence of menstrual periods and/or problems with menstruation or infertility not explained by other medical conditions. 
Other signs and symptoms which sometimes, but not always, appear include: 
  • Rigid and obsessive exercise regimens, despite weather, fatigue, illness and/or injury.
  • Paleness, lightheadedness, loss of balance, and poor circulation. 
  • Withdrawal from activities previously enjoyed to focus solely on weight loss activities. 





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Bulimia Nervosa 

  • Recurrent episodes of binge eating. Binge eating is characterized as: 
  •  Eating  in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any two-hour period) an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances. 
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g. feeling that one cannot stop eating or control how much one is eating) 
  • Recurrent, purging  behavior to prevent weight gain (self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications, fasting or excessive exercise. 
  • Extreme fear of being "fat" or becoming "fat"- extreme hatred of one's body. 
  • Obsession/preoccupation with food, weight loss, calorie counts, fat grams, etc. to the extent that conversations and other activities revolve around these topics. 
Other signs and symptoms which may or may not appear: 
  • Swelling of the submandibular glands (under jawline) giving a "chipmunk" appearance. 
  • Rushing to the bathroom immediately after a meal and returning with bloodshot eyes. 
  • Hoarding food or stealing food; eating strange foods not usually consumed. 
  • Rigid and obsessive exercise regimens, despite weather, fatigue, illness and/or injury. 
  • Paleness, lightheadedness, loss of balance, and poor circulation. 
  • Withdrawal from activities previously enjoyed to focus solely on weight loss activities. 
  • Problems with menstruation and infertility not explained by other medical conditions.