Do You Have an Eating Disorder?

Chocolate cake with candies on top, cut with several pieces removed and a knife in the cavity

Does the photo above create emotions for you?  Does it trigger a wish to consume sweets?  Do you experience fear or disgust? Do you want to go exercise? An eating disorder is more than “just wanting to lose weight” or “trying to be healthy.” It’s a serious mental health condition that can affect your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors around food and your body. When you have an eating disorder, food is not just food. It is so much more and your emotions are triggered in many ways by the sight or thoughts of food. 

You can’t simply “snap out of it,” and it’s not about willpower or vanity. These struggles often start from a mix of factors—such as genetics, brain chemistry, personality traits, and life experiences.

The most common eating disorders include:

  • Anorexia nervosa – severely limiting food intake and often losing a dangerous amount of weight

  • Bulimia nervosa – cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors to “undo” the eating, such as vomiting or over-exercising

  • Binge eating disorder – regularly eating large amounts of food in a short time while feeling out of control

  • Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) – eating very little variety or amount of food, not due to body image concerns

Signs You Might Have an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders often start small and build over time, so it’s easy to dismiss the early signs. But catching them early can make recovery much easier.

Here are some red flags to watch for:

1. You’re Always Thinking About Food or Weight

  • Counting calories or weighing yourself several times a day

  • Constant dieting or following strict food rules that leave no room for flexibility

  • Feeling guilt or shame if you eat something “off-limits”

2. Big Changes in Eating Habits

  • Skipping meals often

  • Eating huge amounts of food in one sitting (binges)

  • Cutting out entire food groups without a medical reason

3. Trying to “Make Up” for Eating

  • Throwing up on purpose after eating

  • Exercising for hours to “burn off” calories

  • Using laxatives, diuretics, or diet pills in unsafe ways

4. Physical Changes You Notice

  • Weight loss or weight gain that’s not explained by other health reasons

  • Feeling tired all the time, dizzy, or faint

  • Hair loss, brittle nails, or dry skin

5. Emotional or Social Clues

  • Avoiding friends or events if food will be there

  • Feeling anxious, moody, or irritable at mealtimes

  • Tying your self-worth to the number on the scale or how you look