By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD
Symptoms and complications related to the various eating disorders vary according to the severity of the eating disorders.
Specific symptoms of bulimia without anorexia
This is a more secretive disorder. These patients may be underweight but they are not always anorexic. Symptoms may be very subtle and often go unnoticed.
Behavioral symptoms
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Sudden episodes of eating large amounts of food or buying large quantities that seem to disappear
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Evidence of use of laxatives, diet pills, emetics (drugs that induce vomiting), or diuretics (medications that reduce fluids)
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Using the bathroom right after meals on a regular basis. Long periods of time in the bathroom
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Eats in private
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Eats a restrictive diet
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Binge episodes are usually on high-fat, high-carbohydrate and high-sugar “junk” foods
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Behavioral problems like shoplifting, binge spending, alcohol or drug use and/or sexual promiscuity
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Decline in work and school attendance
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Short lasting relationships
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Perfectionist behaviors
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Excessive exercising
Cognitive and mental symptoms
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Preoccupation with food
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Difficulty in concentrating, decision making, rigid thinking
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Fear about intimacy in personal relationships
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Anxiety, depression, anger, irritable, defiant or stubborn with or without mood swings
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Feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, loneliness and low self esteem
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Fear of weight gain
Physical symptoms
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Broad fluctuations of weight
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Evidence of red eyes due to broken eye blood vessels during the strain of vomiting
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Erosion of the tooth enamel, cavities in the teeth and gum diseases from excessive acid due to forced vomiting
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Cuts and calluses across the tops of fingers due to self-induced vomiting. This is known as the Russel’s sign.
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Dehydration, fainting spells, dizziness, hand tremors or blurred vision
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Dry mouth
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Pouch-like appearance to the corners of the mouth due to swollen salivary glands
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Rashes and pimples
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Loss of, or irregular, menstrual periods
Symptoms specific of anorexia
The major symptom of anorexia is severe weight loss.
Behavioral symptoms
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Severe dieting by restrictive dieting or binge-eating and purging
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Usually maintain calorie diaries and records of all that they eat. Weigh and measures food
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Excessive exercising along with severely restrictive dieting
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Refusal to eat in front of others
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Ritualistic eating, including cutting food into small pieces or avoiding certain foods
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Reactivity and hypersensitivity to cold
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Excessive heavy clothing to prevent from being cold and from the thinness being apparent
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Shop for groceries and prepare food for others, but avoids eating
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There may be hoarding of food
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Social withdrawal
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Unrealistic perfectionist behaviors
Physical symptoms
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Weight loss
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Long periods without menstrual periods among women. Delay in onset of menses in young girls
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Hair loss from scalp
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Yellowish skin. This is especially evident on palms of the hands and soles of the feet due to eating too many vitamin A-rich vegetables such as carrots
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Dry skin covered with fine hair
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Swollen feet and hands
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Bloating after eating and digestive problems
Mental symptoms
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Confused or slowed thinking and poor memory or judgment
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Conversations and projects revolving around food and weight loss
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Indecisive or, conversely, rigid “black-and-white” thinking
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Beliefs regarding thinness equating to happiness
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Severe self control
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Anxious, depressed, angry, stubborn or display mood swings.
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Feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, anxiety and loneliness and low self-esteem
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Incapability to adjust to changes of routines
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Severe fear of weight gain
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Refusal to believe anything is wrong and denial for need for help. May become sulky, angry or defensive when concern is expressed
Reviewed by April Cashin-Garbutt, BA Hons (Cantab)
Sources
Further Reading