Eating Disorders

A healthcare provider will make an eating disorder diagnosis by:

• Performing a physical exam.
• Reviewing your symptoms.
• Learning more about your eating and exercising habits.
• Ordering imaging, blood or urine tests (kidney function test, electrocardiogram) to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms or to determine if you have any complications.

Providers use the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5-TR) to make a diagnosis. The DSM-5-TR outlines symptoms for each type of eating disorder. You don’t have to have every symptom to receive an eating disorder diagnosis. And even if you don’t have a specific DSM-listed eating disorder, you may still need help overcoming food-related issues.

Who diagnoses an eating disorder?

Healthcare providers, like physicians and mental health professionals, diagnose eating disorders. Your primary care provider may review symptoms, perform a physical examination and order blood tests. A mental health counselor, like a psychologist or psychiatrist, conducts a psychological evaluation to learn more about your eating behaviors and beliefs.