Warning Signs of Eating Disorders

Warning signs for anorexia nervosa are:

• Dramatic and significant weight loss, usually 5% below the normal weight for height.
• Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
• Undergo excessive exercise, with the urge to “burn off” calories taken in.
• Underweight but still on diet
• Always feels “fat” or overweight
• Fear of weight gain or being “fat”
• Lack of menstrual periods
• Avoiding mealtimes with various excuses
• Refusal to take certain foods or whole categories of foods
• Withdrawal from social activities and friends

Warning signs for bulimia nervosa are:

• Sign of uncontrollable eating even when the stomach is full
• Evidence of purging behaviors, e.g. strict dieting, fasting, vigorous exercise and vomiting
• Abuse of laxatives or diuretics ("water pills") to lose weight
• Preoccupation with body weight
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Doing excessive exercise with the urge to burn fat
• Keep away from social activities and friends
• Having swollen cheeks and reddened finger resulted from inducing vomiting
• Having dental problems and discoloration of the teeth caused by stomach acids.
• Suffering from depression and swing in mood

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