Eating disorders are characterized by self critical thoughts about weight and eating. It affects one’s behaviour in terms of eating habits and daily activities. 90% of people with eating disorders are females. The most common type of eating disorders signs and symptom are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Eating disorders frequently develop during adolescence or early adulthood, but some reports indicate their onset can occur during childhood or later in adulthood.

Eating disorders frequently occur together with other psychiatric disorders such as depression, substance abuse and anxiety disorders.

Anorexia nervosa

People with anorexia usually starve themselves and refuse to maintain their ideal body weight because they feel they are overweight.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia is characterized by habitual binge eating and purging. A person with bulimia may experience weight fluctuations, but usually do not suffer from the low weight associated with anorexia.

Eating disorders Signs and symptom

The signs and symptoms of anorexia include

*Weight loss, sometimes achieved by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, use of diuretics or exercise
*Refusal to maintain normal body weight
*Intense fear of gaining weight
*Seeing themselves as fat even though they are not
*Menstrual changes or the absence of menstruation in females
Fatigue
*Baby-fine hair covering the body (lanugo)
*Mild anemia
*Brittle nails and hair
*Low blood pressure

The signs and symptoms of bulimia include

*Recurrent episodes of binge eating(compulsive overeating)
*Feeling that their eating behavior cannot be controlled
*Efforts to prevent weight gain by either self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or other medications, fasting or excessive exercise following a binge
*Unhealthy focus on body shape and weight
*Dehydration
*Fatigue
*Constipation
*Damaged teeth and gums from gastric acid in vomit
*Swollen cheeks from regular vomiting