Signs of an Eating Disorder

Signs and behaviors of an eating disorder are often hard for friends and family of a patient to identify, but can be generalized as extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food. Below is a list of some warning signs to be on the lookout for—remember that not all symptoms may be apparent in all individuals.
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  • About
  • Contact
  • What is an Eating Disorder?
  • Signs of an Eating Disorder
  • First Appointment Information
  • Treatment
  • FAQ
  • What to Expect in Recovery
  • Healthy Weight Maitenance
  • How Do I Help?
  • Testimonials
  • Support Group
  • Articles to Read

Signs and Behaviors to Look Out for

  • Refusal to eat, or a dramatic decrease in amount of food normally eaten
  • Denying oneself to eat food that was normally liked—some common excuses are that it’s full of fat (or fattening), unhealthy, or that he/she is trying out a new “diet”.  Many times vegetarianism is a catalyst for disordered eating.
  • Binging on unhealthy amounts of food in a sitting—this is more difficult to see as most individuals who engage in this behavior will do so in secret.
  • Hiding food/hoarding
  • Disappearing after eating (to purge food eaten)
  • Dramatic weight loss (especially in teenagers) in a short amount of time
  • Lanugo (soft, fine hair on the body where there wasn’t any before)
  • Low body temperature (will often complain of it being cold)
  • Brittle, dry hair and nails
  • Yellowed skin
  • Puffy cheeks or swollen glands (from continual throwing up)
  • Scratches/cuts on knuckles or fingers (from causing oneself to throw up)
  • Bloodshot eyes from continual throwing up—veins in the eye have actually been known to rupture from violent purging
  • Lethargic
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Secluding from family and friends
  • Spending copious amounts of time exercising and feeling he/she “has to” exercise in order to eat
  • Eating only “safe” foods (foods that the individual believes will not cause him/her to gain weight)
  • Amenorrhea in females
  • Low blood pressure
  • Slowed heart rate—those who compulsively exercise may claim that their low heart rate is an indication of their “health”.
  • Cognitive distortions, such as “If I eat this I will balloon up”, “I am grossly overweight”, “I don’t deserve to eat”, etc.
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  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • What is an Eating Disorder?
  • Signs of an Eating Disorder
  • First Appointment Information
  • Treatment
  • FAQ
  • What to Expect in Recovery
  • Healthy Weight Maitenance
  • How Do I Help?
  • Testimonials
  • Support Group
  • Articles to Read
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • What is an Eating Disorder?
  • Signs of an Eating Disorder
  • First Appointment Information
  • Treatment
  • FAQ
  • What to Expect in Recovery
  • Healthy Weight Maitenance
  • How Do I Help?
  • Testimonials
  • Support Group
  • Articles to Read