Eating Disorder Warning Signs
Weight
loss: extreme thinness or loss of 15 or more lbs. in 2-3
months, is exhilarated by weight loss
Intense
fear of being overweight: preoccupied with thinness, wants
to be thinner than peers, complains of being overweight when
not, obsessed with clothing size, scales, and mirrors
Preoccupation
with dieting and food: uses diet products, talks constantly
about food, calories, fat grams, reads a lot about
nutrition, dieting, and exercise
Skips
meals, eats very little, finicky about food, appears to eat
when not— e.g., pushes food around on a plate but does not
eat it
Unusual
eating habits: eats one thing at a time, eats the same thing
every day, cuts food into tiny pieces, fears touching
certain foods, sudden vegetarianism, refuses to eat with
others
Bathroom
breaks: disappears into the bathroom during or after
meals—may suggest vomiting to purge calories
Taking
up smoking: especially for someone who would not be expected
to smoke
Caffeine
use: excessive drinking of diet caffeinated beverages or
regular coffee without sugar
Evidence
of binge-eating: A lot of empty food packages may suggest
bingeing
Empty
laxative packages: herbal or otherwise, may suggest purging
Onset
of hyperactivity: constantly fidgets, lots of exercise
Loss
of menstrual period: irregular, minimal, or absent menses
Intolerance
of cold: shivering, blue skin or fingers
Wears
baggy clothes or long sleeves, pants, and coats during
summer months—used to hide excessive thinness, may
indicate body image problems
Skin
& hair problems: pasty-looking skin, very thin and dry
hair, hair loss, and fine hair growth on the face and arms
like a baby—all indicate malnourishment
Swollen
salivary glands: distended, “chipmunk cheeks”
Broken
blood vessels in the eyes
Change
in mood: anxiety, depression, irritability, increased
obsessions and compulsions
Social
withdrawal: isolates from peers and family; unwilling to eat
with other people
Perfectionism
& low self-esteem: expects too much of self and sees
self as not good enough
