Anorexia Nervosa
What is Anorexia Nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is a psychological condition where the person is obsessed with being thin, and views their body in a distorted way. They may see themselves as being fat, when in reality they are underweight. They have an intense fear of gaining weight and may also feel that being thin is linked to beauty or being perfect. An anorexic person restricts food intake and starves their body of the nutrition and energy it needs. A person with anorexia can become malnourished and cause damage to their body, particularly their heart, digestive and reproductive systems. Sometimes the damage can be so serious that it leads to death.

Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia:

• Severe weight loss
• Obsession with dieting
• Distorted perception of body weight and size
• Excessive exercising
• Refusing to eat in fear of gaining weight
• Denying hunger
• Dizziness, feeling week
• Poor circulation and feeling cold all the time
• Increased amount of facial hair
• Irregular or absent period (Amenorrhoea)
• Thinning hair
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Heart problems
• Irritability
• Depression
• Inability to concentrate
• Dry skin

Bulimia Nervosa
What is Bulimia Nervosa? Bulimia nervosa involves some form of purging, like vomiting, taking diet pills, fasting, using laxatives, or excessive exercising to get rid of unwanted food and calories. Purging is dangerous and counterproductive. People with bulimia have periods of uncontrollable binge eating before purging. Like anorexia, bulimia is a psychological condition and is a means of coping with difficult feelings.

Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia:

• Preoccupation with food
• Distorted perception of body weight and size
• Frequent dieting
• Abuse of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics
• Compulsive exercising
• Trips to the washroom after eating
• Sore throat
• Swollen glands
• Mouth infections
• Irregular periods
• Damaged teeth and severe dental problems
• Dehydration
• Constipation
• Heart damage
• Depression

Binge Eating
What is Binge Eating? Binge eating is also called compulsive eating. It involves episodes of uncontrollable binging without purging. Binging is often emotionally driven where food is used as a source of comfort. It usually occurs in private because people feel ashamed and embarrassed of their eating behaviour.

Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating:

• Rapid weight gain
• Eating too fast
• Eating until uncomfortably full
• Eating large amounts of food when you're not hungry
• Feeling out of control and unable to stop eating
• Eating alone, hiding how much you eat
• Feeling ashamed, depressed or guilty after binging

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