People often assume that if their loved one develops an eating disorder and needs treatment, it will be obvious. They'll lose a lot of weight, stop eating altogether, or purge after every meal. Sometimes these things are true, but eating disorders are incredibly complex, varied, and sneaky. There are some less-common signs of eating disorders that often go overlooked by well-meaning family members and friends. If someone you know shows these signs, then you'd be wise to encourage them to seek treatment for an eating disorder.

Food just disappears from the kitchen when they're left alone

Of course, it's normal for your loved one to enjoy a meal or a snack when you're not around. But if you notice that whenever they're left alone, large amounts of food tend to disappear, this is cause for concern. There is a good chance your friend is eating large amounts of food at once. Binges can be incredibly large, and some people taking in tens of thousands of calories at once.

While binging is a hallmark symptom of bulimia, it can also be a sign of binge eating disorder, an eating disorder characterized by huge binges but no purging afterward. Even though those with binge eating disorders are not starving themselves, the disease is still serious and warrants treatment at an eating disorder clinic.

They have a ton of food rules

Maybe your loved one eats, but they seem to have an unusual amount of rules when it comes to their eating. Not eating after a certain time of day, or avoiding one or two food groups is probably within the boundaries of what's normal. But if your loved one seems to have more banned foods than allowed foods, only eats at specific times, counts calories to the extreme, and never bends their rules, this could be a sign of an eating disorder. This type of overly restrictive eating and obsession with healthiness is often diagnosed as orthorexia, and it does need to be treated.

They won't eat in front of you

Maybe you're pretty sure your loved one eats, and they seem to be a healthy weight — but they never eat in front of you. They may flat-out refuse to eat around people, or they may make excuses for never eating around others. This can be a subtle sign of most any eating disorder. The person is probably aware that their eating habits are unusual, which is what has driven them to such secrecy. Treatment can help them break free before the disorder becomes more serious.

If you think your loved one may have an eating disorder, encourage them to seek care. Eating disorder treatment is not just for super-thin people.