Food is one of the joys of life, but not for everyone. For the 28.8 million Americans suffering from an eating disorder, food is the enemy. Eating disorders are common, and they can go undiagnosed and untreated until the physical and mental side effects become severe. Take our quiz on eating disorders and find out if you, a loved one, or a friend should speak with a medical professional.
1. True or false? Eating disorders are mental health conditions that cause you to have an unhealthy relationship with food. Anyone can develop an eating disorder.
2. A common eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. Which of the following is the definition of anorexia nervosa?
A. When eating gives you anxiety
B. When eating makes you nervous
C. When you restrict food and/or caloric intake, also called self-starvation, out of fear of gaining weight and a distorted self-image.
D. None of the above
3. Another common eating disorder is bulimia nervosa. Which of the following is the definition of bulimia nervosa?
A. Eating large amounts of food in a short amount of time, called bingeing, then getting rid of the food, called purging, by vomiting or using laxatives, in an effort to control your weight.
B. When you eat only one type of food
C. When you eat only at certain times
D. None of the above
4. Binge eating disorder is when you eat or think you ate a large amount of food in a short amount of time, followed by which of the following feelings?
A. Shame
B. Regret
C. Guilt
D. Depression
E. All of the above
5. Pica is a food disorder where you compulsively swallow non-food items. Which of the following are examples of things people with pica might eat?
A. Chalk
B. Dirt
C. Paint
D. All of the above
6. True or false? Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a food disorder characterized by limiting the amount or type of food eaten for reasons unrelated to a distorted self-image or an attempt to lose weight.
7. Which of the following are symptoms of an eating disorder?
A. Mood swings
B. Fatigue, fainting, and/or dizziness
C. Thinning hair or hair loss
D. Unexplained weight changes or drastic weight loss
E. Unusual sweating or hot flashes
F. All of the above
8. Which of the following are behavioral symptoms that can be seen in those with eating disorders?
A. Restrictive eating, dieting, avoiding certain foods, and/or fasting
B. Intensive and excessive exercise, especially after eating
C. Body dysmorphia and/or an obsession with how one looks
D. Uncommon patterns around food, such as only eating in secret, going to the bathroom immediately after eating, throwing food away, etc.
E. All of the above
9. Which of the following are some of the more serious health issues eating disorders can cause?
A. Low blood pressure and damage to your heart
B. Dehydration and kidney damage
C. Brittle bones
D. Brain damage
E. Death
F. All of the above
10. Eating disorders commonly occur with other mental health disorders, called co-morbidity. What other mental health disorders are commonly found in those with eating disorders?
A. Anxiety disorders
B. Mood disorders, such as depression
C. Impulse control disorders
D. Substance use disorder
E. All of the above
11. True or false? Anyone can develop an eating disorder, but they are more common in women, and they usually develop during the teen years or young adulthood, though eating disorders can appear at any stage in life.
Compiled by ERIKA ALDRICH / Resources: Information provided by The Cleveland Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, and Medline Plus.
ANSWERS:
- True
- C. Self-starvation and not eating
- A. Binging and purging
- E. All of the above
- D. All of the above
- True
- F. All of the above
- E. All of the above
- F. All of the above
- E. All of the above
- True