Too much dieting may lead to eating disorders that are unhealthy to the body. Know the various eating disorders that might lead to brain damage and death!

Ironically, even though eating disorders are among the most discussed issues nowadays, the number of women who suffer from these fatal conditions still continues to rise. In their attempts to follow society’s definition of beautiful, which often means having a stick-thin figure, women resort to various ways of achieving “the look” promoted by magazines, television, and movies.

While some adhere to healthy ways of slimming down, others turn to almost instantaneous, but extremely dangerous methods of shedding off pounds. We are all aware of the perils of unhealthy dieting, such as harm to internal organs, brain damage, and even death.

Below are three of the most common eating disorders that we ought to prevent. If a friend or a relative shows the following symptoms, you must act immediately and extend your help.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by excessive dieting, anorexia nervosa causes people to have a distorted image of themselves. Even if they are fit enough, they see themselves as chubby, fat, or overweight. Symptoms include extreme weight loss, cold hands and feet, constant exhaustion, weakness of the muscles, fainting, dizziness, and irregular menstrual period.

While people with this eating disorder surround themselves with food, they will avoid it as much as they can. They will think of any excuse to delay or avoid eating. When they do eat, they tend to cut food into very small pieces.

Because they see themselves as fat, they often wear oversized clothes. This is also to hide the effects of extreme dieting. They tend to weigh themselves daily and are usually people-pleasers, willing to help everyone else.

Those with anorexia nervosa usually deny having a problem, so it can be difficult to treat them. But once they receive proper counseling and nutritional training, they will be able to overcome this disorder. Please read my extended take on anorexia nervosa here.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimics are people who resort to excessive eating, and then purging. While vomiting is a common way of purging, they also get rid of weight gained by using enemas, diuretics, and laxatives. Symptoms include bingeing, eating secretively, weight fluctuations, constant bathroom visits after every meal, fatigue, weakness, and sore throat and tooth decay due to constant purging.

Compared to anorexics, bulimics are easier to treat because they do realize they have a problem. A relapse after treatment may happen, but with proper counseling and nutritional assessment it can be cured.

Compulsive Overeating

This eating disorder is characterized by a person who eats excessively for comfort, especially during stressful moments. Symptoms include bingeing, eating secretively, as well as starting and stopping various forms of diet.

Compulsive overeaters are also easy to treat because they know they have a problem. Like with other eating disorders, its cure constitutes proper counseling and nutritional guidance.