Eating Disorders Diagnosis Do You Know Someone Who Has an Eating Disorder? Diagnosing Eating Disorders in a Culture That Promotes It By Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, is a certified eating disorders expert and clinical psychologist who provides cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 28, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Medically reviewed by Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Rachel Goldman, PhD FTOS, is a licensed psychologist, clinical assistant professor, speaker, wellness expert specializing in eating behaviors, stress management, and health behavior change. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print NicolasMcComber/Getty Images Because eating disorder symptoms are often aligned with cultural norms, it may be hard to distinguish whether a friend or loved one has an eating disorder. For example, our society considers it virtuous to “eat clean,” restrict carbs, and exercise intensively. However, these same behaviors could be symptoms of an eating disorder. No other mental health diagnosis shares this property; people do not typically wish upon themselves symptoms consistent with depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder the way they desire to have symptoms consistent with some eating disorders. Stacey Rosenfeld, PhD. highlighted this phenomenon when she titled her book, Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder? In private communication, Dr. Rosenfeld wrote: We have a culture that supports disordered eating, in the form of extreme dieting, overexercising and compensating for the food we eat. People are praised for engaging in these behaviors and for losing weight at all costs. All of this makes it challenging for some individuals with eating disorders to understand and address their concerns. I've seen clients present with eating disorders who aren't even aware they have a disorder because they view their eating behavior as within normal limits in a disordered culture. This backdrop of the disorder can make a diagnosis—and recovery—more challenging. This is especially difficult to identify when some of the treatments for obesity include, low-calorie diets, intermittent fasting, significant weight loss, and even stomach emptying devices—red flags for an eating disorder diagnosis—are sometimes prescribed for larger patients. It is also not rare for people with eating disorders, especially those with restrictive eating disorders, to lack the awareness that they have an eating disorder. This condition, called anosognosia, is a frequent symptom of the illness. When confronted about whether they might have an eating disorder, many people will deny or discount it. Who Gets Eating Disorders? The prevailing stereotype is that eating disorders only affect thin affluent white teenage females. As a consequence, anyone who doesn’t fit this stereotype may not recognize their eating disorder, and their symptomatic behaviors may fail to attract the attention of family and friends. Research has shown that when presented with a set of symptoms consistent with an eating disorder, even mental health professionals are less likely to assign a diagnosis to a patient portrayed as African American than to one portrayed as Caucasian or Hispanic. Eating disorders affect people of all sizes, ages, genders, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses, and are not always expressed in stereotyped ways. Eating disorders often express differently in males, with males commonly reporting greater concerns around muscularity. Since this attitude runs counter to that most commonly seen in females with an eating disorder (a desire for thinness), males may not realize they have an eating disorder. While patients with anorexia nervosa are expected to always appear very thin, atypical anorexia nervosa can occur in people who are larger. This means that larger patients who remain in an overweight category despite losing a significant amount of weight can exhibit the same medical issues as a patient who meets the full criteria for anorexia nervosa. Yet merely due to their size, they rarely get the proper medical or mental health attention than thinner patients do. What Are the Different Types of Eating Disorders? The most recent Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) lists four primary diagnoses that affect adolescents and adults: Binge eating disorder Bulimia nervosa Anorexia nervosa Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED) and unspecified feeding and eating disorders This last category exists because many people with eating disorders do not fully meet the criteria for one of the other three main disorders. They may present with symptoms similar to one or the other or a combination of them. Furthermore, the line between disorder and well-being is not well-defined: between the extremes, there is a group of people who suffer from various degrees of disordered eating but are not diagnosable. These people may suffer similarly to those who meet full criteria and more often go untreated. What Symptoms Should I Be Concerned About? The following symptoms may indicate that someone has an eating disorder: Avoidance of eating or excuses for not eating Dieting, weight fluctuations, excessive exercise, and poor body image, each on their own, may not be a sign of an eating disorder. Eating disorders may also look different in children. Disappearance of food (which may indicate binge eating) Frequent dieting behavior and/or preoccupation with dieting Frequent weight fluctuations, significant weight loss, or being significantly underweight Poor body image Preoccupation with body or weight Presence of purging, laxative or diuretic use Presence of binge eating (eating a large amount of food in a discrete period of time with a seeming loss of control) Presence of excessive exercise Using the bathroom or showering after meals 4 Signs of Eating Disorders in Children If a loved one is showing the above signs, the next questions to ask are whether a preoccupation with eating, shape, and weight are negatively impacting their life. For example, does it interfere with their ability to concentrate, sleep, socialize, or work? Has there been a recent noticeable shift in these behaviors? If so, further evaluation is advised. Do not be put off if your loved one insists there is not a problem. This is often a symptom of the illness. Even if you feel that they might not be sick enough, it is best to err on the side of caution. Early intervention and treatment can reduce the length of illness and improve chances for a full recovery. A Word From Verywell We're glad you're reaching out to learn more about eating disorders. Friends and family members can play an important role in their loved one's eating disorder recovery. It is important to understand that recovery from an eating disorder can be challenging and takes time, but, especially with treatment, the chances for full recovery are good. The National Eating Disorders Association also provides tips on talking to a family member or friend. Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Murray, S. B. (2016). Gender Identity and Eating Disorders: The Need to Delineate Novel Pathways for Eating Disorder Symptomatology. Journal of Adolescent Health, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.10.004 Rosenfeld, Stacey M., 2014. Does Every Woman Have an Eating Disorder? Challenging Our Nation's Fixation with Food and Weight. By Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, CEDS Lauren Muhlheim, PsyD, is a certified eating disorders expert and clinical psychologist who provides cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for Eating Disorders Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.