Eating disorders have become a major issue, so much so that the last week of February was observed as the National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Changes in lifestyle and daily stress are responsible for millions of Americans struggling with this severe condition, which can often prove to be life-threatening! In fact, compared to any other mental ailment, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate.

However, the good thing is that early detection of the symptoms related to eating disorder and timely treatment can not only help increase the chances of an individual to recover successfully, but also live a long and healthy life, Health.com reported. Eating disorder is not a problem that an individual opts to suffer with. Parents, friends and loved ones can all help the sufferer provided they identify the signs early on.

So how does one recognize the symptoms and signs of eating disorders and help the individual to recover from the problem? Look for the following signs in people close to you to know whether they are struggling with eating disorders, Yahoo news states.

• Any transformation in behaviors as well as attitudes regarding dieting, weight loss, controlling food or body or any additional food and  body "talk"; oblique as well as obvious discussions about desire to change their food or body, as well as ignominious talk about food or their body.
• Any move to Withdraw or isolate oneself from friends or family, social engagements, and activities.
• Too much as well as severe exercise schedules, for instance how frequent one visits the gym and the period they spend there, as well as what is their focus. People with eating disorders often go to the gym regardless of exhaustion, illness or injury and are obsessed to "burn off" calories.
• Spending too much money on food, disappearance of food, visiting the bathroom often after meals may possibly suggest bingeing and purging behaviors.
• Losing too much weight and very fast.
• Keeping a close tab on calories or changing diets too often.

According to the director of program development at Timberline Knolls, Chicago, Amy Klimek, the society has ignored the behaviors, signs, as well as symptoms related to eating disorders or disordered eating, which has made it all the more difficult to detect if an individual is struggling with the problem.

Nevertheless, it is possible to recover from this ailment provided the sufferers receive help from healthcare professionals and support from their family, friends, and/or the community. In fact, the journey to recovery begins as soon as the individual starts getting the help they need.

Readers interested in learning more about how to help people with eating disorders may visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.