Someone with an eating disorder may or may not exhibit some or all of these symptoms. A trained professional should be consulted for a complete evaluation and proper diagnosis. If you or someone you know exhibits any of these symptoms, consider getting more information, help, and support.

1. •Exhibits much concern about weight
   

2. •Complains of feeling fat
   

3. •Suffers from depression (including
   

4. •shame, anger, and guilt)
   

5. •Perfectionist personality
   

6. •Attributed social and professional successes/failures to weight gain/loss
   

7. •Loathing of body, hiding shape and weight
   

8. •Intense fear of gaining weight, refusal to maintain minimal normal weight
   

9. •Low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness
   

10. •Intense guilt about eating
    

11. •Depressed moods, mood fluctuations, impatience, irritability
    

12. •Preoccupation with food, calories, fat, dieting, nutrition, and/or cooking
    

13. •Vague or secretive eating patterns
    

14. •Weight fluctuations
    

15. •Abuse of laxatives, coffee, or diuretics
    

16. •Compulsive exercise
    

17. •Ritualistic patterns around food
    

18. •Restrictive eating
    

19. •Purging behaviors
    

20. •Hoarding or stealing food
    

21. •Going to the bathroom after meals
    

22. •Eating alone
    

23. •Eating large amounts of food when not physically hungry; bingeing or eating uncontrollably
    

24. •Unable to stop eating voluntarily
    

25. •Dental problems, swollen glands, heartburn and/or bloating
    

26. •Amenorrhea—losing monthly menstrual period
    

27. •Hair loss, hollow facial features, shrunken breasts
    

28. •Dry skin, bruises, bloodshot eyes
    

29. •Insomnia, constipation, gastrointestinal problems, damaged/discolored teeth
    

30. •Frequent complaints of being cold
    

31. •Hypertension, fatigue, complaints of nausea
    

Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This slowing down can have serious medical consequences.

1. •Dramatic weight loss
   

2. •Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
   

3. •Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. No carbohydrates, fats, etc.)
   

4. •Frequent comments about feeling fat or overweight despite weight loss
   

5. •Anxiety about gaining weight or being fat
   

6. •Denial of hunger
   

7. •Food rituals (e.g. Eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate)
   

8. •Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food
   

9. •Excessive, rigid exercise regimen—despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury—the compulsion to burn off calories
   

10. •Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
    

11. •Behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are primary concerns
    

Warning Signs of Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles can impact the entire digestive system and purge behaviors can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions.

1. •Evidence of binge-eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short period of time or the existence of wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
   

2. •Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
   

3. •Excessive, rigid exercise regimen—despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury—the need to burn off calories
   

4. •Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area
   

5. •Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting
   

6. •Discoloration or staining of teeth
   

7. •Creation of complex lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions
   

8. •Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
   

9. •Behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are primary concerns
   

Warning Signs of Binge Eating

Binge eating disorder is most commonly referred to as compulsive overeating and can affect women or men, though it appears twice as often among women.  Individuals with binge eating disorder suffer from episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing followed by periods of guilt and depression. A binge is marked by the consumption of large amounts of food, sometimes accompanied by a pressured feeling. Frequently, one continues to eat even after she becomes uncomfortably full. Binge eating can lead to severe medical problems including high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and depression.

1. •Eats large amounts of food when not physically hungry
   

2. •Eats much more rapidly than normal
   

3. •Eats until the point of feeling uncomfortably full
   

4. •Often eats alone because of shame or embarrassment
   

5. •Has feelings of depression, disgust or guilt after eating
   

6. •Has history of marked weight fluctuations
   

A bend in the road is not the end of the road...unless you fail to make the turn.

--Unknown

Prevention & Education:

Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

The Allasso Foundation, 303 Church Street, Guilford, CT 06437   203.453.1817

comerrg@mindspring.com