Eating disorders and mental health issues can be insidious. These struggles and shame can cause people to pull away or hide their suffering. If you notice significant changes in weight, mood, and food habits in your friend or loved one, they may be struggling with disordered eating. However, some signs may be harder to recognize. Above all, it is essential to encourage anyone you think may be struggling to get adequate support.
By: Irene Schultz
An eating disorder is a combination of many symptoms and behaviors. Here are ten signs that may not seem concerning but are red flags that indicate someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder. On their own, each of these signs does not necessarily mean someone is suffering from an eating disorder. However, it is important to know what to look out for.
Feeling Cold All of the Time
If your friend reaches for another layer or sweater when it is warm and sunny, they may be so malnourished that their body is not circulating blood as optimally as it should. Restricting certain primary foods and food groups (such as meat and carbs) can cause anemia in individuals who are not consuming enough iron.
Bluish Discoloration of Hands and Feet
In extreme starvation, malnourished individuals can experience discolored and tingling extremities. This occurs when the body does not have enough calories (energy) to spend on keeping body parts warm that are not necessary for survival. The body naturally puts energy and nutrients first into keeping the most vital organs protected, working to keep you alive.
Dizziness/fainting
If you notice your friend becoming faint when going from sitting to standing, it may be a sign that their blood sugar is low (hypotension) due to a lack of adequate nutritional intake. Other noticeable cardiovascular complications include chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness.
Abnormal Hair Growth/Loss
To stay warm, a starving body will grow fine hair on the face and limbs, called lanugo hair. This biological survival response happens to help people survive extreme conditions like dieting, which is considered an extreme adverse condition by our brilliant bodies! At the same time, however, those struggling with disordered eating can also experience hair loss because they are not consuming enough protein and fats to grow healthy hair. Noticing a significant loss of hair in your friend’s brush or sink is a warning sign that there may be something going on with them. Along the same lines, malnutrition can cause brittle nails and dry/itchy skin.
Yellowish Skin Discoloration
A yellow tint, called a carotenoderma, can develop in a person’s skin when consuming too many vegetables and fruits, as those “cutting” calories and following crash diets usually do.
Callus/scar on the Back of Hands
Known as “Russel’s sign,” calluses, typical of self-induced vomiting, appear on a person’s knuckles.
Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Restriction, binging, or purging can cause severe stomach upset. Pay attention if your friend is experiencing frequent abdominal pain, bloating, or constipation. In extreme cases, gastroparesis (when starvation leads to slowing the entire GI tract) can cause nausea and the possibility of throwing up.
Loss of Periods
If your friend is a person who menstruates, they may be so malnourished that their body does not think it can produce another life safely. Its response is to halt one’s menstrual cycle so one cannot get pregnant, a common ED symptom known as amenorrhea.
Cognitive Deficits
Starvation severely impacts a person’s brain. Not eating enough can cause decreased concentration and memory loss. The same science supporting this is behind the phenomenon of becoming “hangry” when you have gone too long without eating. If your friend is changing their usual cheerful disposition or seems mentally “out of it,” it may be because they have not been eating enough. Furthermore, eating disorders often co-occur with other psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, OCD, self-harm, and suicide ideation. If your friend is showing signs of sucidial ideation or harming themselves, seek immediate medical attention.
Socially Distant. (Nope, not in the COVID-friendly way!)
It is common for a person struggling with an eating disorder to pull away socially. You may notice your friend or loved one suddenly making excuses not to join for brunch, failing to attend events/parties they are invited to, taking solo lunch breaks away from others at school or work, spending more time in the gym than out with friends, etc. Everyone needs their alone time, but if your friend purposely avoids social gatherings involving food, it may not be a coincidence.
While it can feel scary and confusing for everyone involved, someone struggling with an eating disorder must receive professional support. Do your best to communicate with someone you think may be struggling in an open, non-judgemental way. Eating disorders are detrimental to a person’s mental, physical, and emotional well-being. being aware of telltale signs, both overt and subtle, can make all the difference.
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, our compassionate, highly skilled team of clinicians is trained in diagnosing and treating the spectrum of eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, and other disordered eating behaviors and body image issues. Additionally, BALANCE offers free virtual support groups open to individuals seeking help and family and loved ones. The group provides a supportive forum within which members can explore issues, including ambivalence about engaging in treatment, recovery, resources, and treatment options and knowing when and how to take the next steps toward making change. RSVP for our next group on Saturday, October 8th, at 11:00 am EST here.
BALANCE also now offers exclusive insurance trials in its virtual track. With our insurance trials, eligible participants get access to treatment right away, comprehensive payment options, and our team’s support in navigating your coverage. Your insurance could cover up to 80% of your allowed amount up front, reducing the cost of your treatment, and allowing you to pay the remaining balance through a payment plan, after an initial deposit. Reach out here to see if you qualify.
Looking for eating disorder treatment programs or services in the New York City area? Learn more about our options at BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™ here or contact us here.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Irene Schultz (she/her).
Irene is a professional dancer/actress based in Manhattan, NYC. She holds a B.F.A. in Commercial Dance and a B.A. in English/Writing from Pace University. Growing up in the arts and entertainment industry, with its extreme focus on thinness, Irene experienced and witnessed firsthand the detrimental effects of toxic diet culture. Irene completed her M.Ed. in Health Education and Promotion at Plymouth State University, where she was enrolled in the Eating Disorders Institute, the only graduate program in the world approved by the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP), and the nation’s only eating disorder specialist certificate program of it’s kind. When she is not onstage performing, Irene enjoys hiking, swimming, traveling, cooking, doing yoga, cuddling with her cat, and helping other artists and individuals heal their relationship with food and their bodies. She is excited to combine her passions for eating disorder recovery and writing by contributing to the Balance blog.
Reference
Delgado, Dawn. “5 Reasons Eating Disorders May Flare up in Summer Months.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 4 June 2018, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/eating-disorders/201806/5-reasons-eating-disorders-may-flare-in-summer-months.
