Signs that may indicate an eating disorder

Someone with an eating disorder will show signs that can be seen but may be confusing to the observer. An individual will likely show some but not all of the signs noted below.

Behavioural Signs
 
·         Either planning to go on a diet, on a diet or has just ‘broken’ one most of the time
·         Talking about bingeing or dieting
·         Describing foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’
·         Hiding food or eating in secret
·         Gaining weight but eating little in the presence of others
·         Eating quickly
·         Avoiding social situations
·         Talking constantly about food, dieting and/or weight
·         Making frequent trips to the bathroom especially right after eating
·         Dieting very restrictively, vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics or diet pills or exercising excessively in an effort to undo effects of bingeing
·         Severely restricting food intake or fasting
·         Ritualistic food behaviours such as counting bites, cutting food into tiny pieces, playing with food on the plate or preparing food for others and refusing to eat it
·         Excessive exercising to lose weight
·         Extreme fear of becoming fat
·         Dressing in baggy or layered clothing to hide weight loss
·         May binge, use laxatives, diuretics or enemas to get rid of food
Psychological and Emotional Signs
·         Mood shifts including irritability, depression, self-hate, shame
·         Denying ‘negative’ feelings
·         Using food to cope with stress or feelings
·         Blaming other problems on weight
·         Feeling out of control with food
·         Feelings of self-worth determined by weight and what is or is not eaten
·         Feeling of inadequacy about his/her abilities
·         Social isolating
Physiological Signs
·         Weight gain or fluctuations not explained by medical conditions
·         Weight fluctuations or little or no weight gain in spite of consumption of large amounts of food
·         Chronic sore throat
·         Swollen glands or puffiness in the face, cracks in the corner of the mouth, broken blood vessels in eyes and face, damaged tooth enamel
·         Fatigue and muscle aches
·         Dental problems
·         Weight loss (often sudden and to a very low body weight)
·         Dizzy Spells
·         Constipation
·         Periods irregular or stop completely
·         Insomnia
·         Low blood pressure.
·         Dry skin & Hair, Brittle Nails and teeth
·         Irregular Heart beat
Eating disorders can often be non-specific when they include symptoms from a number or different illnesses. Disordered eating can take many different forms. Do not dismiss a problem just because someone does not fit within a particular ‘label’.