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Eating Disorders: Early warning signs and when to seek help
04th July, 2026 08:00 PM
Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect a person’s relationship with food, eating habits, and body image.
They are not simply about dieting or wanting to lose weight.
These disorders can have severe physical, emotional and psychological consequences if left untreated.
According to statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 2021, 16 million people experienced eating disorders, including almost 3.4 million children and adolescents.
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, involve abnormal eating and preoccupation with food as well as prominent body weight and shape concerns.
“The symptoms or behaviours result in significant risk or damage to health, significant distress, or significant impairment of functioning. Anorexia nervosa often has its onset during adolescence or early adulthood and is associated with premature death due to medical complications or suicide,” the WHO stated.
According to the WHO, individuals with bulimia nervosa are at a significantly increased risk for substance use, suicidality, and health complications.
At the same time, WHO notes that effective treatment options exist, including family-based treatment and cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Most common eating disorders
Anorexia nervosa: A condition in which a person severely restricts food intake because of an intense fear of gaining weight or a distorted body image. People with anorexia may become dangerously underweight.
Bulimia nervosa: Characterised by episodes of eating large amounts of food in a short time, binge eating, followed by behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise or misuse of laxatives to prevent weight gain.
Binge-eating disorder: Involves frequent episodes of consuming unusually large amounts of food while feeling unable to stop, often followed by feelings of guilt, shame or distress. Unlike bulimia, binge-eating episodes are not regularly followed by purging behaviours.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): A condition where a person avoids or limits certain foods, leading to poor nutrition, weight loss or difficulty meeting the body’s nutritional needs. Unlike anorexia, ARFID is not driven by concerns about body weight or shape.
