Eating Disorders

What are eating disorders?

Eating disorders are emotional illnesses that cause a person to adopt harmful eating habits. They are most common among women and teenage girls. Often, eating disorders will get worse the longer they are not treated. They can harm organs inside the body and, in severe cases, lead to death.

The most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa (starving oneself on purpose); and bulimia nervosa (eating large amounts of food all at once [bingeing] and then purging [vomiting]). The person with bulimia also may control weight by fasting, taking laxatives and diet pills, and exercising often.

If someone you know has an eating disorder, don't wait to get help. Eating disorders get more difficult to treat the longer they go on.

What are the symptoms of an eating disorder?

Anorexia nervosa

• Rapid weight loss over several weeks or months
• Dieting even when weight is very low
• Intense fear of gaining weight or getting fat
• Feeling the body is fat even when it is bone-thin
• Watching every bite of food
• Strange eating habits or routines
• Eating in secret
• Having an unusual interest in food
• Exercising very often and for long periods of time
• Becoming very sad (depressed) or anxious
• Infrequent, irregular menstrual periods
• Wearing loose clothing to hide weight loss
• Being highly self-critical, wanting to be perfect
• Consistently spending time in the bathroom after eating

Bulimia nervosa

• Weight may be normal, slightly overweight, or quite overweight
• Eating large amounts of food (bingeing)
• Vomiting after eating
• Abusing laxatives and diet pills
• Exercising very often and for long periods of time
• Abusing alcohol or drugs
• Eating in secret
• Having strange eating habits or routines
• Consistently spending time in the bathroom after eating
• Having an unusual interest in food
• Becoming very sad or anxious
• Infrequent, irregular menstrual periods
• Mood swings

Some people switch between periods of anorexia and bulimia.

How do eating disorders hurt a person's body?

Eating disorders can hurt the person's body in many ways. They can even lead to death by starvation, heart failure, or suicide.

Anorexia nervosa can cause:

• Damage to organs, especially the heart, brain, and kidneys
• Drop in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rates
• Brittle hair and nails
• Lowered body temperature
• Sensitivity to cold
• Loss of hair
• Body hair that becomes fine
• Irregular heartbeat
• Loss of thyroid function
• Thinning of bones (osteoporosis)

Bulimia nervosa can cause:

• Swollen glands and sore throats
• Bursting blood vessels in the eyes
• Damaged teeth and gums from stomach acids in vomit
• Ulcers in the mouth and throat

What causes eating disorders?

Eating disorders are the result of the emotions and thinking patterns of the people with the disorders.

Many people with eating disorders have low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and a fear of becoming fat. Often, their eating habits are a way of coping with stress and anxiety.

People with anorexia tend to do very well in school, sports, work, and other activities. Often, they try to be perfect. They may stop eating to feel like they have control in some area of their lives. People with bulimia often eat large amounts of food to reduce stress and anxiety.

Eating disorders also may have physical causes. Eating disorders may be fostered by changes in hormones that control mood, appetite, thinking, and memory.

How can I know if someone I care about has an eating disorder?

Eating disorders can be difficult to spot. Young people especially are very focused on losing weight and dieting. Not all of them develop eating disorders. Those who do often can hide the disorder for months or even years.

When confronted, most people with an eating disorder will deny they have a problem.

If you are concerned, ask the person to seek help. Learn all you can about the disorder. Be supportive and let the person know that you will go with her (or him) to counseling, if needed.

How are eating disorders treated?

If a serious physical illness is present (such as being very underweight), the person must get prompt medical care. Counseling is then the main form of treatment. Antidepressant medications also may be ordered as part of treatment.

Where can I learn more?

• National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (1-847-831-3438; www.anad.org)
• National Mental Health Association: (1-800-969-NMHA [6642]; www.nmha.org)

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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 2/3/2005