What is it?
Eating disorders are not just about food, weight, vanity, or willpower, but are serious and potentially life-threatening mental disorders. Most eating disorders occur when a person has distortions in thoughts and emotions relating to body image, leading to marked changes in eating or exercise behaviors that interfere with the person’s life.
Signs and Symptoms:
Behavioral:
- Dieting behaviors, such as fasting, counting calories, avoidance of food groups or types
- Evidence of binge eating
- Evidence of vomiting or laxative use
- Excessive, obsessive, or ritualistic exercise patterns
- Changes in food preferences
- Development of rigid patterns around food selection, preparation, and eating such as cutting food into small pieces, or eating very slowly
- Avoidance of eating meals
- Lying about amount or type of food consumed or evading questions about eating and weight
- Behaviors focused on body shape and weight
- Development of repetitive or obsessive behaviors relating to body shape and weight, such as pinching waist or wrists, repeated weighing, or excessive time spent looking in mirrors
- Social withdrawal or avoidance of previously enjoyed activities
Physical:
- Weight loss or weight fluctuations
- Sensitivity to cold or feeling cold most the time, even in warm temperatures
- Changes in menstruation
- Swelling around cheeks or jaw, calluses on knuckles, or dental discoloration from vomiting
- Fainting
Psychological:
- Preoccupation with food, body shape, and weight
- Extreme body dissatisfaction
- Distorted body image, such as complaining of being, feeling, looking fat when actually having a healthy weight or being underweight
- Sensitivity to comments or criticism about exercise, food, body shape, or weight
Support Strategies:
- Assess for risk of suicide or harm
- Listen nonjudgmentally
- Give reassurance and information
- Encourage appropriate professional help
- Encourage self-help and other support strategies
