Knowing the signs of eating disorders can help you identify them in yourself or someone else in your life. While anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder aren’t the only possible eating disorder diagnoses, they are among some of the most widely spoken about eating disorders. Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of each. 

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by extreme calorie or food restriction and fear of weight gain, often paired with weight loss or low body weight not better explained by another cause. Signs and symptoms of anorexia can include but aren’t limited to:

• Extreme fear of weight gain
• Weight loss or failure to achieve appropriate body weight for one’s age and height 
• Unusual food rituals, such as eating with small utensils, eating only at certain times, or only eating specific foods (called “safe” foods)
• Restriction of energy (calorie) intake relative to the person’s daily requirements
• Hoarding food or cooking for others frequently but not eating the food themselves 
• Increased secrecy, social isolation, or withdrawal from others
• Preoccupation with weight, food, or body dissatisfaction
• Dressing in layers or baggy clothes
• Brittle nails or dry skin
• Feeling cold more easily
• Growth of fine hair, called lanugo, on the body
• Menstrual irregularities or loss of menses (amenorrhea) 
• Excessive, rigid exercise routines 
• Trouble focusing or concentrating
• Impaired immune functioning 
• Weakened bones
• Thinning hair 
• Poor wound healing
• Sleep problems
• GI distress 
• Dizziness
• Fainting

Abnormal laboratory findings (e.g., iron deficiency, low blood cell counts, changes in thyroid or other hormone levels) are often found in those who experience anorexia, too, and can be serious. Other risks of anorexia nervosa include but aren’t limited to heart attacks, coma, and death. 

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is characterized by ongoing patterns of binge eating followed by purging. Like with other eating disorders, bulimia is very serious regardless of a person’s body size. Signs and symptoms of bulimia nervosa include but aren’t limited to:

• Extreme fear of weight gain
• Abnormal weight fluctuations (including weight gain or weight loss)
• Being preoccupied with one’s weight or body shape and size
• Binge eating, characterized by eating an amount of food that is larger than most would typically consume in a similar period of time (e.g., two hours) and under similar circumstances
• Feeling a lack of control during binge-eating episodes
• Using self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, laxatives, or something else to avoid weight gain 
• Increased secrecy, social isolation, or withdrawal from others
• Planning one’s schedule or activities around binging and purging
• Irritability, anger, extreme mood swings, or changes in mood
• Not wanting to eat around other people
• Menstrual irregularities or loss of menses (amenorrhea) 
• Excessive, rigid exercise routines 
• Trouble focusing or concentrating
• Impaired immune functioning 
• Weakened bones
• Thinning hair 
• Poor wound healing
• Brittle nails or dry skin
• Sleep problems
• GI distress 
• Dizziness
• Fainting

Like with anorexia nervosa, abnormal laboratory findings are common in individuals facing bulimia nervosa. In the case that someone purges through vomiting, there may be evidence in the form of containers or bags of vomit hidden around the home, swollen cheeks, marks on one’s fingers and hands, vocal strain, and electrolyte imbalances. 

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by recurring periods of binge eating. Binge eating refers to eating abnormally large amounts in a short period of time. Unlike cases of bulimia, those with binge eating disorder do not use compensatory behaviors like excessive exercise or vomiting after a binge. Signs and symptoms of BED include but aren’t limited to:

Recurring episodes of binge eating are marked by both of the following:

• Eating an amount of food that is larger than most would typically consume in a similar time period (e.g., two hours) and under similar circumstances
• Feeling a lack of control during binge-eating episodes

Episodes of binge eating are marked by three or more of the following:

• Eating alone due to embarrassment surrounding the amount of food one consumes
• Feeling negative emotions (e.g., sadness, shame, guilt, anger, or frustration) after the episode 
• Eating more quickly than normal
• Eating until one feels uncomfortably full
• Eating when one is not hungry

For a BED diagnosis to occur, one must experience episodes of binge eating at least once weekly on average for at least three months, paired with marked distress. Furthermore, binge eating episodes must not exist strictly during the course of another eating disorder (e.g., bulimia nervosa). 

Other Eating Disorders

Some people’s eating disorders will fall under another diagnosis, such as other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). This doesn’t mean that their eating disorder is less serious. If you have an eating disorder that doesn’t meet the criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or BED, our women’s eating disorder treatment center may be able to help.