Eating Disorders

Overview

Condition Specific Sites

Symptoms

  • Anorexia
    • Weight loss, sometimes achieved by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, use of diuretics or exercise
    • Refusal to maintain normal body weight, sometimes maintaining a weight 15 percent or more below normal body weight
    • Intense fear of gaining weight
    • Negatively altered body image
    • In females, menstrual changes or the absence of menstruation
    • Anxious or ritualistic behavior at mealtimes
    • Fatigue
    • Depression
    • Irregular heart rate
    • Lightheadedness
    • Mild anemia
    • Brittle nails and hair
  • Bulimia
    • Recurrent episodes of binge eating
    • Feeling that you can't control your eating behavior
    • Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack
    • Following a binge with efforts to prevent weight gain — such as self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or other medications, fasting or excessive exercise
    • Unhealthy focus on your body shape and weight
    • Dehydration
    • Fatigue
    • Weakness
    • Depression
    • Irritability
    • Dry, sometimes yellowed skin
    • Damaged teeth and gums from gastric acid contained in vomit
    • Swollen cheeks from regular vomiting
    • Irregular heartbeat
  • Binge eating disorder
    • Recurrent — at least two a week — episodes of compulsive overeating not followed by purging
    • No control over eating behavior
    • Feelings of shame or guilt
    • Fatigue
    • Joint pain
    • Gallbladder disease
    • Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels

Diagnosis

Treatments

Ogranizations and Patient-Centered Sites