An eating disorder is a recognized mental health condition. That affects the way a person may think about food, eating habits, and their relationship with their body. It is not a matter of willpower. As people cannot simply stop these thoughts and behaviors on their own.
Eating disorders are not just for teenagers. Many adults in the United States and across the globe struggle with them quietly. Life can get busy. And it is easy to miss the warning signs of eating disorders. Consequently, adults can develop an eating disorder later in life. Or discover that they may have had one for years. Without realizing it!
Let’s understand Eating Disorders in Adults!
The DSM-5 defines an eating disorder as:
“A behavioral condition characterized by severe, persistent disturbance in eating behaviors and is associated with distressing emotions and thoughts”.
Unique behavioral patterns are called “eating disorders”. It is when a person’s relationship with food and body image becomes so difficult that it starts affecting different domains of their life.
Eating Disorder Dynamics: From Young to Older Adults
Eating disorders affect many adults and families across the U.S. and here in Florida. According to eating disorder statistics, roughly 28 million people in America will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. This includes adults of all ages. The stats for such conditions are similar in Florida.
Early Signs of Eating Disorders in Adults
Early signs of an eating disorder in adults can appear before anyone notices. These include:
- Skipping meals
- Bingeing
- Purging
- Mood changes
- Avoiding social meals
Let's go over the full range of symptoms of eating disorders so you can understand what to look for and when to seek help.
→ Medical and Physical Signs
These signs of an eating disorder in adults appear even if your eating habits seem manageable on the surface:
- Ongoing fatigue or low energy
- Lightheadedness, or fainting
- Changes in heart rhythm
- Feeling unusually cold
- Digestive issues such as constipation, bloating, or nausea
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Hair thinning, brittle nails, or dry skin from nutrient deficiencies
→ Emotional Signs
Emotional eating disorder symptoms are common across different eating disorder types and are frequently reported. You may notice:
- Anxiety around meals or eating situations
- Guilt and shame after eating
- Irritability and anger
- Frequent mood changes
- Feeling out of control in your relationship with food
- Low self-worth tied to eating habits
- Depreciated body image
→ Psychological Signs
Many adults do not realize these thought patterns are part of an eating disorder until they seek an eating disorder diagnosis:
- Constant thoughts about food, weight, or calories
- Strong fear of gaining weight, even when others say you look fine
- Strict rules about what or when you are allowed to eat
- Difficulty focusing because food thoughts take over
- Being very hard on yourself about eating choices
- Feeling anxious when food plans change
→ Behavioral Signs
Behavioral signs show up in daily habits around food and routine. In adults, these behaviors often feel “normal” or justified, which makes them easy to miss:
- Skipping meals or delaying eating
- Eating alone to avoid questions
- Eating large amounts very quickly
- Exercising excessively to compensate for eating
- Avoiding entire food groups
→ Social Signs
Social changes are common in adult eating disorder cases. These include:
- Avoiding social events that include meals
- Making excuses to skip group gatherings
- Feeling uncomfortable eating around others
- Pulling away from friends or family
Adult Eating Disorder Diagnosis
We know that coming in for an evaluation can feel stressful. Our providers comfortably begin with a thorough evaluation of both your physical and mental health:
→ Start with checking weight, vital signs, and lab tests to understand your overall physical well-being.
- Eating behaviors are reviewed, including:
- restriction
- bingeing
- purging
- excessive exercise.
- A psychological assessment looks at:
- negative emotion
- body image concerns
- perfectionism
- other psychopathologies
- Our clinicians also screen you or your loved one for co-occurring conditions.
- A diagnosis is made using DSM-5 criteria to guide safe and effective adult eating disorder treatment.
Adult Eating Disorder Treatment Options
Treating eating disorders involves medication, therapy, and structured support.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the first step in eating disorder management. It helps you realize and notice harmful thought patterns even early on.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Eating disorders are often accompanied by emotions that are too difficult to handle. Dialectical behavioral therapy teaches you how to:
- Manage overwhelming urges related to binging and purging, without shame
- Handle triggers that result in an unhealthy relationship with food
- Be kinder to yourself after having a slip-up
- Learn grounding techniques for when you're not in a good headspace
Medication
Medication support can help stabilize patients as they work through the root causes of their problems. Lisdexamfetamine can reduce your intense urges to binge. Whereas antidepressants such as fluoxetine can reduce racing thoughts, anxiety, and depression.
Structured Support
For an eating disorder, a combination of therapy and medication usually works best when the patient receives adequately structured support from their healthcare team, so that they don't have to navigate the system on their own.
When to Seek Professional Help?
You should consider an eating disorder diagnosis and professional care if:
- Symptoms of an eating disorder last for weeks or months.
- Your physical health is changing.
- Eating behaviors feel out of control.
- Food causes anxiety, guilt, or fear.
- Relationships or work are being affected...
Take the First Step Towards Recovery By Choosing Health & Psychiatry for the Treatment of Eating Disorders
At Health & Psychiatry, we know every adult’s experience with an eating disorder is different. We create a treatment plan that fits your needs.
Eating disorder treatment includes:
Eating disorder therapy
Sometimes, talking helps more than anything else. Our eating disorder therapists get it, and will work at your pace to figure things out.
Outpatient eating disorder treatment
We know that life doesn't stop when you're struggling. This is why the hours of our outpatient program fit easily into your day.
Inpatient eating disorder treatment
The inpatient facilities for eating disorder treatment give you 24/7 psychiatric care and have all the support you need to feel steady again.
Residential eating disorder treatment
A residential program for eating disorder treatment offers you to eat, sleep, and live while connecting with people who understand what you're going through.
Support from specialists
Not sure which treatment will actually help you?
Our board-certified psychiatrists and best eating disorder therapists in Florida are here to answer your questions so that you don't feel alone. They'll help you make sense of different treatment options, what works for you, and what to expect after staffing treatment.
Remember, you're not alone in this. To take the first step towards feeling better, just schedule your consultation and let our experts guide you forward.
FAQs
How to know if you have an eating disorder?
Signs of an eating disorder in adults include skipping meals, bingeing, purging, or extreme worry about weight.
What are the eating disorder recovery symbols in adults?
Small victories matter. Like eating with less or no anxiety. Also accepting your natural body and enjoying meals, whether alone or with others, shows progress in adult eating disorder treatment.
Is an eating disorder a mental illness?
Yes. Eating disorders are serious. It is a recognized mental health condition. Realizing and accepting it, is necessary to have effective eating disorder therapy.
How long does eating disorder treatment take?
Treatment duration depends on the different conditions of effective person. Some adults improve in months. With outpatient eating disorder treatment. Others may need inpatient or residential eating disorder treatment.
Is online treatment effective for eating disorders?
Yes. Online eating disorder therapy works well. Specially for outpatient eating disorder treatment. This allows you to meet with an eating disorder therapist from home.
What are the early signs of Eating Disorders in adults?
Early warning signs are skipping meals or eating too much at once, or purging. It is very important to notice the signs of an eating disorder early on.
