Eating disorders: how to recognize the symptoms?

Being concerned with one’s own body is “normal” during puberty. During this period, teenagers often deal with nutrition and diets . However, if certain behaviors and diets become an inherent part of life, one should pay attention. The symptoms may not yet develop into an eating disorder . However, if suspicious moments and changes in behavior occur to an increased extent, you should continue to monitor them and, if necessary, consult with a specialist.

Conspicuous eating behavior

A variety of conspicuous eating behaviors may indicate that someone has an eating disorder , such as increased consumption of diet products, eating very slowly, chewing each bite extremely thoroughly, or cutting food into very small pieces. Other clues also include:

• complete exclusion of a specific type of food from the menu, e.g. sources of carbohydrates (including potatoes or pasta), fats and/or all sweets;
• increasingly limiting the consumption of even healthy foods; the already severely limited choice of “acceptable” foods is further restricted; foods are distinguished into “right” and “bad”;
• skipping meals, irregularity in eating;
• eating takes place in a controlled manner, e.g. only at predetermined times, partly with excuses (e.g. “I’m not hungry”, “I’ve already eaten”, “my stomach hurts”, etc.).
• on the one hand, food intake is very limited, on the other hand, there are periods when the affected person eats uncontrollably and eats huge amounts of food.

In addition, the attitude towards food can change over time, the affected person can always seem apathetic at mealtime , discussions and arguments are repeatedly held on the topic of food (e.g. that the person eats too small portions or that he does not eat anything at all).

Distorted perception of one’s own body and efforts to lose weight

For people suffering from eating disorders, their focus is on body weight , figure and weight loss . They also subordinate their daily life and behavior to this. However, an eating disorder often develops slowly and insidiously. Its development can be indicated by, for example:

• rapid or dramatic weight loss,
• significant change in previous eating habits,
• the sufferer considers himself too fat, although others think the opposite, and constantly compares himself to thin people,
• the affected person refuses to come to terms with some parts of his body – for example, a girl may think that her hips are too wide,
• the affected person often checks his weight, stands in front of the mirror, tries to lose weight to a certain clothing size,
• lack of feeling of hunger or satiety,
• the affected person compensates his feelings (anger, rage, boredom, etc.) with food.

Ways of reducing weight

In addition to refusing food, people affected by eating disorders may also take other “measures” with which they intend to achieve the desired weight loss. It can be excessive exercise, playing a sport with the sole purpose of losing weight, or playing sports right after a meal. In addition, the following signs may occur, for example:

• the affected person buys laxatives and various “slimming preparations”,
• food disappears from the fridge, kitchen or pantry, empty packaging is lying around,
• the affected person hoards food in unusual places (for example in his room or in the wardrobe),
• the sufferer spends a lot of money on sweets,
• other members of the household smell the smell of vomit or even find remnants of vomit when visiting the toilet,
• the affected person has physical symptoms that indicate frequent vomiting (e.g. injured corners of the mouth).

It is often not easy for relatives to recognize an eating disorder at all. Its clarification and diagnosis are the task of the doctor. If parents or legal representatives suspect that something is wrong with their child regarding food, they should contact the attending pediatrician , or book a consultation directly with a child psychiatrist or psychologist who deals with these problems. If a teacher or educator at school has such a suspicion, the first step in finding a solution is consultation with the family.

Note: In the case of eating disorders, it is a mental illness that can have serious consequences. These aren’t just “ordinary” food issues that can be resolved with an arrangement or admonishment. The problem is almost never solved “by itself”, in the vast majority of cases it is necessary to seek professional help.