Are you concerned that you or someone you love might be suffering from an eating disorder? Eating disorders are serious and lengthly debilitating illnesses. Studies in Australia found that the average duration of bulimia is 5 years, and 8 years for anorexia. The quicker that one gets help for their eating disorder the better their chances of making a full recovery.

It is tempting to judge if someone has an eating disorder or not by looking at them - it is important to know that you cannot tell if one has an eating disorder by their appearance, and to judge by appearance or weight is very damaging to those who have eating disorders. Most people who have eating disorders are not underweight and do not look ill, and if you suspect that someone has an eating disorder, or someone tells you that they have a problem, it is vital to take them seriously.

It can be very difficult to spot eating disorders until they have are very serious because eating disorder sufferers will go to great lengths to hide their eating disorder and become experts at covering up their behaviour. However, with more awareness surrounding eating disorders now than ever before, we can all keep our eyes open to protect our families, children, and loved ones from these illnesses. If you suspect that someone you know has the warning signs of an eating disorder, have an honest talk with them, bringing your concerns and offering your support. Encourage them to make an appointment with their primary care doctor.

Here are the warning signs to look out for with anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder.

Anorexia

Significant weight loss.

Complaining of being fat

Body image issues

Social isolation

Doesn’t vary from routine

Feeling continually cold, even in warm weather

Becoming vegetarian or going on fad diets

Continuing to diet when goal weight is achieved

Baggy clothes

Cessation or delayed onset of menstruation

Excessive exercise - continuing to exercise when sick or injured

Mood swings

Denial

Fear of weight gain

Excuses for skipping meals

Bulimia

Overeating but no weight gain

Body Image issues

Going to the bathroom after meals

Calluses on knuckles

Food going missing

Avoiding eating with others

Weight fluctuations

Showering or radio in the bathroom

Spending long periods of time in the bathroom

Mood swings

Finding food wrappers in bedroom

Excessive exercise - continuing to exercise when sick or injured

Binge Eating Disorder

Always dieting, without weight loss

Low self esteem

Disappearance of food

Depression and shame about weight

Finding food wrappers

Weight gain while appearing to eat sensibly

Feeling that eating is out of control

Depression and moodiness

Erratic eating habits

Skipping meals

Eating in secret

Do I have an eating disorder?

Professor John Morgan at Leeds Partnership NHS Foundation Trust designed the following screening tool to indicate the possibility of an eating disorder. If your answer is Yes to 2 or more questions, you may have an eating disorder.

The SCOFF Questionnaire

Do you ever make yourself Sick because you feel uncomfortably full?

Do you worry you have lost Control over how much you eat?

Have you recently lost more than One stone in a three month period?

Do you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin?

Would you say that Food dominates your life?

Author's Bio: 

I’m a counsellor/ psychotherapist/ blogger who supports precious people who are overwhelmed to find the strength and encouragement they need to experience freedom and regain confidence, so that they can be free to focus on their own dreams and passions.

I am passionate about physical, emotional, spiritual well-being, eating disorder recovery, dieting issues and domestic violence. I believe the goal is to eat intuitively, to embrace an imperfect life, and to live in balance.

Check me out at http://newtownabbeytalktherapy.co.uk/blog/