ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- Over 11 million Americans have an eating disorder.
- Symptoms of anorexia and bulimia often overlap.
- Many with eating disorders also have a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression.
Detecting the symptoms of eating disorders
Paula Deakins, MD
It’s often easy to dismiss eating disorders as something that affects only models and actresses. But eating disorders affect people from all walks of life. In fact, with 11 million sufferers nationwide, there is a good chance that you are working, exercising or eating alongside someone who has an eating disorder. Unfortunately, their conditions often go undetected – and untreated.
A secret disease
“People who have eating disorders generally go to great lengths to hide them from family and friends,” explains Paula Deakins, MD, eating disorders specialist at Methodist Hospital Eating Disorders Institute. “They wear baggy clothes to hide their thinness and go behind closed doors to purge. And even though they know something is drastically wrong, they often deny that they need help – at least at first.”
Dr. Deakins wants to bring greater attention to eating disorders so more people will receive earlier treatment. “The shame and embarrassment of living with these conditions gets very tiring. And the physical toll can be devastating,” she says.
Types of eating disorders
Anorexia and bulimia are serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorders. Although they are distinct conditions, their symptoms sometimes overlap. “It is helpful when family and friends are aware of their warning signs, because early treatment improves chances of recovery,” Dr. Deakins says.
Anorexia is characterized by an obsession with weight, food and sometimes exercise. People who have anorexia also have disordered thinking, causing them to believe they are overweight despite being very thin. Some of the signs and health consequences of anorexia include:
- low body weight
- low body temperature
- cold hands and feet
- low blood pressure
- low heart rate
- absence of regular periods
- osteoporosis
- muscle loss and weakness
- dry skin and hair or hair loss
- soft, downy hair on the body and face (to keep the body warm)
- denial of hunger
- excuses to avoid mealtime
- withdrawing socially
Bulimia is characterized by out-of-control binge eating, followed by purging – in the form of vomiting, fasting, exercising excessively or using laxatives or enemas. Although people who have bulimia may have a normal body weight, some of the signs and health consequences of bulimia include:
- fluctuating weight
- evidence of purging, including frequent trips to the bathroom
- swollen salivary glands,
cheeks or jaw - calluses or bruises on the back of the hands from self-induced vomiting
- burst blood vessels in the eyes
- dry skin and brittle hair
- tooth decay and gum disease
- abdominal pain and constipation
- headache and fatigue
- absence of regular periods
- dehydration
- discolored teeth
Mental illnesses often linked
Many people who have eating disorders also have a mental illness, such as anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder. “Our team evaluates and treats all issues – medical and emotional – at once,” Dr. Deakins explains. “We have psychiatrists, psychologists, dietitians, exercise clinicians and others who work together to help patients heal.”
“The first step in healing is to admit there’s a problem,” Dr. Deakins continues. “Many people are afraid to seek treatment because they don’t think they can be helped. But help is available – and the sooner, the better.”
To learn more about eating disorders, or to schedule an initial assessment, call 952-993-6200 or visit Park Nicollet.com.
