Quiz: How Do I Know If I Have an Eating Disorder?
Eating makes you anxious. So anxious, in fact, that you try to avoid “bad” and “unhealthy” foods—at least until you find yourself bingeing on them later.
Your new exercise routine has you hooked; you’ve even canceled some plans to fit it in.
You think about your body constantly, with frequent mirror checks and harsh self-scrutiny becoming a daily routine.
It’s common to question whether certain attitudes and behaviors related to food may point to an eating disorder. However, it can be hard to determine what is considered “normal” in our culture that celebrates restrictive eating and thinness.
You may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. We’re here to help. Read on to learn about key eating disorder diagnoses, the signs and symptoms to watch for, and some self-assessment questions. By gaining knowledge about eating disorders, you’ll have a better understanding of what you or a loved one may be experiencing. Remember, you don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to support you from the very start.
Types of Eating Disorders
The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) divides eating disorders into several key categories:
- Anorexia nervosa is characterized by dangerous levels of food restriction resulting in extreme weight loss.
- Bulimia nervosa includes repetitive episodes of bingeing and purging that stem from a fear of weight gain.
- Binge eating disorder is characterized by frequently consuming a large amount of food, followed by disgust, guilt, and a sense of lack of control. Compensatory behaviors are absent.
- Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) involves selective eating due to the sensory characteristics of food and fear of adverse physical consequences.
- Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED) is a classification for eating disorder symptoms that do not fit precisely into any of the other diagnoses.
Eating Disorder Signs and Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms can indicate the presence of an eating disorder:
- Purging, restricting, binge eating, or selective eating
- Constantly discussing food, weight, and shape
- Extreme weight gain or loss
- Rapid decline or increase in food intake
- Excessive or compulsive exercise patterns
- Misuse of diet pills, laxatives, diuretics, or emetics
- Isolating during meal times, eating in secret, or hiding food
- Medical complications such as menstrual irregularity, fainting, hair loss, irritable bowel syndrome, osteoporosis, dental problems, heart problems, gastric perforation, and more
Questions to Ask if You Think You Could Have an Eating Disorder
Early eating disorder intervention yields better treatment outcomes, improves quality of life, and reduces the risk of long-term damage. Our online Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz can help you identify signs of these illnesses as soon as possible.
With questions such as “Do you worry about your weight and body shape more than other people?” the quiz helps you assess your current relationship with food and your body.
The quiz is easy, quick, confidential, and relevant for all types of eating concerns. While it is not a diagnostic tool, it is a helpful resource to gain a better understanding of your relationship with food and your body. Our professionals are here to support you in making sense of your results.
You may also take the quiz for a loved one. If you are noticing concerning behaviors related to food and you want to have an open, productive conversation with your loved one, the assessment results can be a helpful resource.
Help for Eating Disorders is Available
No matter where you are on your eating disorder recovery journey, help is available. Know that you deserve care and support no matter your diagnosis, size, age, race, gender, or sexuality. Your eating disorder may try to convince you that you’re not “sick enough.” Society may try to convince you that “people like you” don’t experience eating disorders. Both are false.
The truth is that you are worthy of healing. Let us join you on the journey to recovery today.
If you think you or a loved one may be experiencing an eating disorder, take the Eating Disorder Assessment Quiz today. You can also give us a call at 1-855-875-5812 or fill out our online form to discuss your symptoms with our caring and knowledgeable staff.