Telltale signs of Eating Disorder

Eating disorder is mainly classified as Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, whereas the third type of eating disorder, binge eating indicates a dangerous and possibly uncontrollable condition. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by lack of food taking, emaciation, thinness but strong unwillingness to maintain a healthy weight, brittle hair and nails, dry and yellowish skin, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, a distortion of body image. People with anorexia see themselves as overweight, even when they are starved or are clearly malnourished. Many people with anorexia also have coexisting psychiatric and physical illnesses, including depression, anxiety, obsessive behavior, cardiovascular and neurological complications, and impaired physical development.

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent eating of large amounts of food, and feeling a lack of control over the eating. Like people with anorexia, they often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and often have coexisting psychological illnesses like depression, anxiety and/or abuse problems. Assosiated Physical illness includes electrolyte imbalances, gastrointestinal problems, severe dehydration, kidney problems, inflamed or sore throat, and oral and tooth-related problems.

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by recurrent binge-eating ( excessive eating) during which a person feels a loss of control over eating. People with binge-eating disorder often are overweight or obese, and often have coexisting psychological illnesses including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders. In addition, links between obesity and cardiovascular disease and hypertension are obvious.