Eating Disorder Symptoms

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Eating disorders are not always visible or obvious. Someone can look “healthy” and still be suffering from an eating disorder.

Common eating disorder symptoms will vary depending on which disorder someone is struggling with. Generally speaking, individuals will often display a preoccupation with food, weight management, and/or body size. Over time, this preoccupation begins to effect other areas of life including daily functioning, relationships, health, and self-esteem. When left unaddressed, eating disorders can take a tremendous toll on the body and mind, often resulting in serious medical complications as well as co-occurring disorders.

Anorexia

  • Distorted beliefs about body shape and size

  • Severely restricting food intake

  • Fear of gaining weight

  • Avoiding mealtimes or food-centered scenarios

  • Denial of hunger

  • Social withdraw and fear of eating in public

  • Dishonesty around food intake

  • Insomnia and irritability

  • Deteriorating skin, teeth, nails, and hair

Learn more about Anorexia

Bulimia

  • Discomfort eating around others

  • Eating uncontrollably or "bingeing"

  • Fear of gaining weight

  • Excessive exercise

  • Self-induced vomitting

  • Excessive use of laxatives

  • Stealing or hoarding food

  • Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals

  • Repeatedly gaining and losing weight

Learn more about Bulima

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

  • Unusual eating habits

  • "All or nothing" approach to food

  • Eating large amounts even when not hungry

  • Hoarding and/or hiding food

  • Feelings of worthlessness or shame after eating

  • Engaging in food rituals

  • Noticeable changes in weight

  • Difficulty addressing anger or sadness

  • Eating in isolation

Learn more about BED

ARFID

(Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

  • Limited variety in diet

  • Avoiding entire food groups

  • Persistent fear of eating such as choking or vomitting

  • Eating very slowly or requiring distraction

  • Unexplained weight loss or growth restriction

  • Nutritional deficiencies

  • Avoiding food-centered social situations

  • Skipping meals frequently

Learn more about ARFID

OSFED

(Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder)

  • Fluctuation of body weight

  • Preoccupation with eating, dieting, or body size

  • Sensitivity to comments about food or eating

  • Distorted body image

  • Becoming socially withdrawn during meals

  • Secrecy around eating habits

  • Obsessive rituals around food

  • Compulsive exercising

  • Symptoms from any of the above disorders

Learn more about OSFED

If you, or someone you love, are experiencing any of these symptoms, Empowered is here to help.

Contact us today to learn more about our Intensive Outpatient Program in Northwest Austin.

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Why Choose Empowered?

  • Locally-owned and operated

    Our program is both locally-owned and operated, with clinicians, admissions, billing, operations, and marketing in-house. We pride ourselves on maintaining alignment between clinical integrity and the client experience.

  • Inclusive & Collaborative

    Our team is committed to helping those suffering from eating disorders, regardless of whether or not Empowered is the perfect fit. We are also collaborative in the sense that we can support cultural foods and traditions, vegetarianism, and faith-based eating.

  • Trauma-forward

    We have designed our program around the assumption that trauma is part of most adult eating disorder presentations. We address this from intake on through our groups, individual therapy, and culture.

  • Adult-only programming

    With adult-only programming we are able to have open and direct conversations about the realities of living with an eating disorder. Groups can dive in to work, parenting and co-parenting, relationships and divorce, sex, finances, and long-standing and complex trauma.

  • "Real world" programming & mindset

    Our program focuses on helping you thrive in the world and at home, not just during controlled programming hours. By having clients prepare and bring their own food, we are able to observe and guide your actual food selections and patterns.

  • Complexity-ready

    We understand that underlying traumas and attachment wounds often contribute to the development of eating disorders, and that the disorder itself is an active and on-going trauma. Our programming is built to thoughtfully treat co-occurring mental health disorders, along with a transparent plan on when we may need to refer out.