Eating disorders: What are they, and what are the early signs to watch out for?

Trigger warning: This article discusses eating disorders and struggles with food.

The internet is abuzz with debates about eating disorders following the announcement that Ariana Grande will step back from the spotlight amid growing public concern about her health.

Many fans have been expressing concern over the visible state of her body, but the “Wicked” star previously said she was actually healthier than before.

As discussions rage on online, here's a primer on eating disorders, and the early signs to watch out for.

What are eating disorders?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, eating disorders are "serious illnesses marked by severe disturbances in a person's eating behaviors." They are the third most common chronic condition among adolescents, after asthma and obesity.

If someone is deeply obsessed with weight loss, body image, and heavily controlling their food intake, these may be early signs of an eating disorder.

Other signs and symptoms of an eating disorder include:

• Dramatic changes in eating behaviors
• Eliminating whole food groups
• Becoming more rigid around food
• Not eating around others
• Cooking or baking, but not eating the food
• Playing with food more
• Breaking food into small pieces rather than taking bites
• More focus on food labels/content
• Spending lots of time in the bathroom, especially right after meals
• Changes in exercise behavior
• Exercise becomes compulsive

What are the types of eating disorders?

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder that involves an obsessive desire to lose weight by refusing to eat or eating less, purging food through laxatives and vomiting, and exercising excessively.

According to the National Library of Medicine, people suffering from anorexia nervosa do not recognize that they are severely underweight and have distorted body images.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder marked by binge eating large amounts of food in secret, followed by purging through the use of laxatives and/or forcing oneself to throw up.

According to the National Library of Medicine, people suffering from bulimia nervosa “lose control and are unable to curb the amount of food they consume.”

Binge Eating Disorder (BED)

On the other hand, Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder, in which a person “eats enormous amounts of food in a short period” without restriction and does not use purging behaviors to compensate for it, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is an eating and feeding condition characterized by a lack of interest in eating, which results in malnutrition, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

Contrary to anorexia and bulimia, ARFID is not driven by body image or weight concerns, but by fears of consequences such as choking, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and allergic reactions, among others.

Pica

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by swallowing non-food items that have no nutritional value or purpose.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is common among children below six, pregnant women, and people with certain mental health conditions, as well as those with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, or schizophrenia.

In a 2026 JAMA Psychiatry study, researchers found that 32% of patients with eating disorders reported using weight-loss peptides at least once. The study highlights that the highest usage was among patients with BED and atypical anorexia nervosa.

Ariana is far from being the only celebrity to spark conversations about eating disorders.

In 2020, Taylor Swift opened up about her past struggles with an eating disorder through her Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana.”

Three years later, a clip of her confession circulated on TikTok, where Lady Gaga lauded her for being brave in opening up about her previous condition.

In the Philippines, Filipino celebrities have also opened up in the past about their eating disorder journeys, including Kylie Padilla, Claudine Barretto, and Moira Dela Torre.

If you need help or someone to talk to, you may contact the Philippines' National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline by calling 0917-899-8726 (Globe/TM), 0908-639-2672 (Smart/SUN/TNT), or 1553 (nationwide toll-free number). —JCB, GMA News