Eating Disorder
How can you recognize the onset of an eating disorder in someone you care about?
You may notice:
– Changes in your son or daughter’s eating habits.
– Avoidance of meals or overeating at meals.
– Withdrawal from friends or families.
– Agitation regarding questions about dysfunctional eating habits or weight gain/loss.
– Increased preoccupation with appearance.
Signs and Symptoms (behavioral, emotional, psychological)
Anorexia Signs & Symptoms:
– Self-starvation with weight loss
– Intense fear of gaining weight
– Refusal to eat or eating only specific foods
– Distortion of Body Image / preoccupation with body
– Continuous dieting / denial of hunger
– Frequently weighs themselves
– Compulsive exercise
– Absence of menstruation
– Sensitivity to cold
– Excessive facial/body hair and/or hair loss
– Food rituals
– Wearing baggy clothes to hide body shape
Some possible psychological signs
– Over-Achiever
– Perfectionism
– Low Self-Esteem
– Mood Swings
– Sleeping problems
– Self worth based on body
Bulimia Signs & Symptoms
– Preoccupation with Food
– Distortion of Body Image
– Food binges
– Eating in secret / hoarding food
– Being in the bathroom immediately after eating
– Running Water in the bathroom to hide sounds of vomiting
– Yo-yo dieting
– Self-induced vomiting
– Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills
– Compulsive exercise
– Weight fluctuations
– Damaged teeth and gums
– Abnormal bowel functions / flatulence/ constipation / bloating
– Scarring or calluses on the back of the hand or fingers
– Swollen salivary glands
– Broken blood vessels in the eyes
Some possible psychological signs
– Reacts to emotional stress by overeating
– Feelings of guilt and shame about eating
– Depressive moods or other negative emotions (shame/guilt/self-loathing)
– Self-worth based on body
– Over-achiever / Perfectionism
