While some people enjoy food in a happy and healthy way, like my foodie friends, others find eating or drinking a daily struggle. It’s not that they dislike food, but because they have deeper mental health issues. Some eat too little, some eat too much and some fear food altogether.
You might wonder, “Who could fear food?” But dear friends, there are many eating disorders that people suffer from — often in silence. This fear of food can stem from a variety of reasons. In fact, there are even disorders related to what people drink, and not just what they eat. Perhaps many of you reading this can relate, or may begin to recognise certain issues within yourselves. If so, this article will help identify potential triggers and symptoms.
I didn’t know much about all this before, but once I started reading, it opened my eyes. So, in this article, I’m going to share what I learnt about eating and drinking disorders which are far more common than we believe, but sadly, there is hardly any awareness about them.
Anorexia nervosa
This is a serious eating disorder where a person starts to have an intense fear of gaining weight. They think their body looks bad and is out of shape (for no reason), so to bring it back into shape, they skip meals. In severe cases, a person develops such an extreme fear of gaining weight that if they do eat, they vomit it out so that the food does not cause them weight gain. Oftentimes, they restrict themselves from food intake to a dangerous point of starvation.
Anorexia affects both the body and the mind. Poor nutrition leads to several physical health issues, while mentally, they may experience anxiety and depression, which worsen over time. One of the reasons behind this stress and anxiety is the growing influence of social media, where body image is in focus and everyone seems to be trying to look better than the next person. These feelings can lower self-esteem and reduce confidence.
There have been many reports about this disorder, including stories of celebrities who have experienced anorexia at some point in their lives — for example, Lady Gaga and Demi Lovato.
Signs and symptoms:
• Extremely low body weight
• Intense fear of weight gain
• Distorted body image (seeing oneself as overweight even when underweight)
• Avoiding meals or eating out with friends
• Fatigue, hair thinning, dry skin and cold intolerance
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia involves a person binge eating in short periods and compensating for the guilt later. There are two types: purging, which involves self-induced vomiting after eating too much; and non-purging, where a person may fast, over-exercise or take laxatives to “clean out” what they ate.
Bulimia often starts in childhood or teenage years. Sometimes, parents feel happy when they see their child eating a lot — without realising that this could actually be a sign of a disorder. You may be surprised to learn that well-known figures like Sir Elton John and the late Princess Diana also struggled with bulimia.
Sir Elton John once told Larry King, “As soon as I said those words (‘I need help’), I knew that I was going to get better and I was determined to get better.” He also shared how comforting it was to know that his close friend, Princess Diana, had faced the same battle.
Signs and symptoms:
• Frequent trips to the bathroom after eating
• Damaged teeth or gums from vomiting
• Swollen cheeks or jaw
• Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
• Secrecy about eating habits
Binge eating disorder (BED)
BED involves eating large amounts of food in a short time — even when not hungry. They keep eating until they are unable to eat more. They may also have their “special” binge foods and often feel unable to stop, followed by guilt or disgust.
There can be many causes behind this disorder, but stress and anxiety are more common. People experiencing depression may give in to binge eating because it becomes their escape; eating helps them relax or unwind.
BED can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and emotional struggles like depression.
Signs and symptoms:
• Eating large amounts quickly, even when not hungry
• Feeling out of control during binges
• Guilt or shame after eating
• Weight fluctuations
Illustration by Gazein Khan
Avoidant/Restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
ARFID is described as extreme picky or fussy eating. Those who develop this disorder may restrict food due to sensory issues, such as fear of choking, lack of interest in eating, or anxiety related to certain types of food. It’s quite common in children and teens.
Such disorders may also develop after a distressing experience in the past that causes fear around eating.
Signs and symptoms:
• Significant weight loss
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Extreme picky eating beyond typical childhood behaviour
Orthorexia
Some people develop an extreme focus on hygiene, which extends to food and eating. Their life becomes extremely challenging as they grow obsessed with eating only “clean” or “pure” foods.
Although not officially recognised in the DSM-5, orthorexia is increasingly being studied.
People with this disorder may constantly question how food is prepared, doubt ingredients and even choose to starve rather than eat something they consider impure.
Signs and symptoms:
• Obsession with food quality and purity
• Avoiding ‘unhealthy’ foods even when necessary
• Anxiety or guilt over food choices
• Social isolation due to food rules
• Checking labels repeatedly
• Fear of unhealthy ingredients
Pica
In Pica, a person may develop an interest in eating non-food items. These items can range from eating ice to more dangerous things like metal or lead. Other common items include clay, hair, dirt, paint, glue, paper, chalk, etc.
Anyone can develop Pica at any age, but it’s more common in children, pregnant women and people with mental health conditions like autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, or schizophrenia.
Unusual cravings may be a sign your body is trying to replenish low nutrient levels. A deficiency in iron, zinc or other nutrients may be linked to Pica.
Risks:
• Intestinal blockages
• Poisoning (e.g., lead)
• Infections
• Mouth ulcers
• Parasitic diseases
Night eating syndrome
Some people suddenly wake up at night with a serious urge to eat. They can’t sleep until their stomach is full. While occasional night eating is common, this disorder goes beyond normal behaviour. People may start craving food after dinner and feel compelled to eat to satisfy their hunger later in the night.
Signs and symptoms:
• Lack of appetite in the morning
• Insomnia
• Eating more than 25% of daily food intake after dinner
Drinks-related health conditions
Caffeine use disorder
Having one or two cups of coffee or tea a day — with your parents’ permission — is usually fine. But more than that can backfire. Coffee, energy drinks, tea and sodas all contain caffeine, which keeps us awake — but too much can harm our health.
It’s not officially listed in the DSM-5 yet, but doctors do recognise it.
Signs and symptoms:
• Inability to reduce caffeine use
• Headaches, irritability or fatigue when not consumed
• Sleep problems
• Increased heart rate or anxiety
Water intoxication (Hyponatremia)
There’s no doubt that water is healthy. But drinking too much in a short time can be dangerous. It leads to a drop in sodium levels in the blood — and the body needs that balance. It usually happens when people drink litres of water too quickly, like during sports or strange online challenges. So yes, water is good — but don’t overdo it.
Symptoms:
• Nausea, headache
• Confusion, seizures
• Coma (in extreme cases)
Dehydration
We all know about dehydration. It happens when you don’t drink enough fluids. So drink enough water throughout the day, especially if you’re active or sweating a lot.
Signs:
• Thirst, dry mouth
• Dark urine
• Fatigue, dizziness
• In children: no tears when crying, sunken eyes
Psychogenic polydipsia
This involves drinking too much water — not because of thirst, but due to a mental health condition. The brain signals the body to drink more even when it doesn’t need to. It’s often seen in people with schizophrenia or severe anxiety. It can lead to water intoxication and requires medical supervision.
Risks:
• Water intoxication
• Electrolyte imbalance
Other disorders include addiction to or overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, excessive use of energy drinks, or regular intake of high-caffeine and high-sugar drinks. These habits can lead to serious health issues like obesity, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and fatty liver disease. Immediate risks include heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, anxiety or panic attacks and high blood pressure.
Life is all about being thankful for the blessings we have — whether material or health-related. While seemingly funny or non-serious, these disorders are real and can turn people’s lives upside down. If you’re facing any such problem, be honest with yourself, your parents and your doctor if you truly want to get better.
And if someone in your group is going through such a struggle, help them reclaim their body image, pamper them and offer your support.