The Harold C. Schott Foundation Eating Disorders Program
Eating Disorders Warning Signs
Anorexia Nervosa
- Deliberate self starvation with weight loss
- Refusal to eat or highly restrictive eating
- Continuous dieting
- Compulsive rituals, strange eating habits, dividing food into “good” and “bad” categories
- Intense persistent fear of gaining weight
- Weighs 85% or less than what is expected for age and height
- Is terrified of becoming fat even though she/he is underweight
- Denies the dangers of low weight
- Reports feeling fat, even when very thin
- Compulsively exercises
- Exhibits anxiety, depression, irritability, withdrawal
Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge eating, usually secretively
- May buy, steal or sneak large quantities of “binge foods”
- Feels out of control while binging
- Vomits after binging
- Abuses laxatives, diuretics or diet pills
- Compulsively exercises
- Diets or fasts when not binging
- Believes self-worth requires being thin
- May abuse alcohol or drugs or may shoplift or be promiscuous
- Weight may be at or near normal unless anorexia is also present
- May have swollen salivary glands
- Broken blood vessels in the eyes from purging
Binge Eating Disorder (compulsive over-eating)
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Binge eats frequently and repeatedly
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Feels unable to control eating during binges
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May eat rapidly and secretly, or may snack and nibble all day long
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Feels ashamed of binge eating
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There may be sporadic fasts or repetitive dieting
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Has a history of failed diets
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May eat for emotional reasons or for comfort
- Tends to be depressed and obese