Based on your answers to this questionnaire, you have checked some of the indicators of eating disorders which could mean you're at risk of an eating disorder. You might want to talk to your doctor about your eating habits.

Common eating disorders

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight or being "fat". It typically starts out innocently as a normal attempt to diet in teenage females, but eventually progresses beyond the individual's control, leading to self-starvation and an extreme weight loss, and in some cases, compulsive exercising. Symptoms include obsession with food and calories, rigid categorization of foods as "good" or "bad," excessive weighing, avoidance of social situations where food is served, denial of eating problems and depression.

People with anorexia also suffer from serious health problems related to malnutrition including anemia, low blood pressure, lowered heart rate, absence of mensturation, decreased metabolism, dizziness, and death in severe cases.

Bulimia

Bulimia is a cycle of uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging -- sufferers eat large amounts of food well past the point of being comfortably full, then get rid of the food through vomiting or laxative abuse. Individuals with bulimia are often of normal weight or even slightly overweight. Bulimia usually starts as an attempt to control weight but quickly becomes a destructive process that cannot be controlled. Food becomes a focal point of life, with an obsession about what can or cannot be eaten. Since bingeing is accompanied by a sense of shame and guilt, episodes usually take place in secret. Bulimic sufferers then compensate for the overeating by purging to get rid of the food before it digests. People with bulimia are often aware that their eating patterns are abnormal and feel out of control, leading to impaired personal relationships, depression and low self-esteem.

Bulimia-related health problems can be serious: Frequent vomiting can lead to the permanent damage of the teeth and esophagus tissues. There is also an increased risk of kidney problems, seizures, and electrolyte imbalance which can lead to cardiac arrest and even death.