Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect how someone thinks about food, eating, and their body. If you’ve found yourself asking how you know if you have an eating disorder, recognising the signs is a meaningful first step toward getting the right support.
What are the signs of an eating disorder?
Eating disorders affect people differently, but certain behavioural, emotional, and physical signs tend to appear across most conditions. These include:
- Constant preoccupation with food, calories, or body shape
- Skipping meals, avoiding certain food groups, or eating in secret
- Eating large amounts of food in a short period, followed by distress or guilt
- Rigid rules or rituals around eating, exercise, or weight
- Withdrawing from social occasions that involve food
- Noticeable changes in weight, energy levels, mood, or concentration
- Anxiety or low mood connected to eating, body image, or exercise
If several of these signs sound familiar, it doesn’t automatically mean you have an eating disorder, but it’s
worth exploring further with a professional who can offer proper support.
Is there a test for an eating disorder?
Short screening questionnaires, such as the SCOFF questionnaire used widely across the NHS, can help highlight areas of concern. These typically ask about your control around food and your feelings about eating, weight, and body image. At ABBI Clinic, we also have our own eating disorder questionnaire, designed to help you reflect on your relationship with food, weight, and eating.
It’s important to remember that eating disorder questionnaire results are not the same as a diagnosis. They are designed to prompt reflection and encourage you to seek a full assessment from a GP or eating disorder specialist if your answers raise concern.
Common types of eating disorders
Eating disorders are usually grouped into distinct diagnostic categories, though experiences can overlap. The following examples are some of the main types, but this isn’t an exhaustive list. To read more about other conditions, head to our eating disorders page.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves severe restriction of food intake, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body image. Someone with anorexia may also exercise excessively or use other behaviours to control their weight.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by cycles of eating large amounts of food, followed by behaviours to compensate, such as vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise. People with bulimia often maintain a typical body weight, which can make the condition harder to spot.
Binge eating disorder
Binge eating disorder involves regularly eating large quantities of food in a short space of time, often with a sense of losing control. Unlike bulimia, this isn’t usually followed by compensatory behaviours.
Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)
OSFED covers eating disorders that involve significant distress and disordered eating patterns but don’t meet the full diagnostic criteria for anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder. It’s just as serious and just as deserving of support.
Get help now: resources & next steps
Benefits of seeking professional help
Speaking to a professional early can make a significant difference to recovery. Support from a therapist, dietitian, and medical team helps address the emotional and physical aspects of an eating disorder together, rather than in isolation.
How to find help
You can start by speaking to a GP, who can refer you for specialist assessment and treatment. Charities such as Beat also offer helplines and guidance if you’re not ready to speak to a medical professional yet. At ABBI Clinic, clients can access either Day Care or Outpatient programmes, depending on what’s appropriate for their circumstances.
How to talk to someone
Choosing a calm, private moment can make these conversations easier. Try focusing on how you feel rather than on specific numbers or behaviours, and remember that reaching out, whether to a friend, family member, or professional, is a sign of strength.
Tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with food
- Eat regularly and try not to skip meals
- Notice hunger and fullness cues rather than following strict rules
- Limit exposure to content that promotes unrealistic body ideals
- Talk openly with people you trust about how you’re feeling
- Be patient and compassionate with yourself, remembering that recovery isn’t linear
Access eating disorder support at ABBI Clinic
If you suspect that you or a loved one might be demonstrating the behaviours and signs of an eating disorder, we are here to help you seek the support you need. At ABBI Clinic, we have the expertise and compassion to help you heal at every stage of the journey, whatever that looks like for you.
Fill in the form below, or call us, and we’ll guide you through the next steps. If you’re looking to gain a clearer sense of where you are right now, and whether it might be worth having a conversation with a specialist, our eating disorder questionnaire is also available.
