Anorexia:
Here
are some of the common warning signs that indicate that a person may be suffering
from anorexia. The person: Is thin and keeps getting thinner, losing 15% or more
of her ideal body weight. Continues to diet or restrict foods even though she
is not overweight. Has a distorted body image-feels fat even when she is thin.
| |
| Is
preoccupied with food, calories, nutrition, or cooking. |
| Exercises
obsessively. | | Weighs
herself frequently. | | Complains
about feeling bloated or nauseated even when she eats normal-or less than normal-amounts
of food. | | Loses
her hair or begins to experience thinning hair. |
Bulimia
Here are some of the common warning signs that
a person may be suffering from bulimia. The person:
| |
| Engages
in binge eating and cannot voluntarily stop. |
| Uses
the bathroom frequently after meals. | | Experiences
frequent fluctuations in weight. | | Cannot
voluntarily stop eating. |
Compulsive Overeating
People with compulsive eating disorder feel
unable to stop eating, eat very fast, eat when they're not hungry, eat only when
alone, or eat nearly non-stop throughout the day. Compulsive eaters often over-indulge
in sugary foods and use them in an attempt to elevate their mood. When they don't
eat the foods they crave, they often experience severe withdrawal symptoms.
Binge
Eating Disorder
Here are some of the common
warning signs that suggest a person may be suffering from binge eating disorder.
The person:
| |
| Eats
large amounts of food when not physically hungry. |
| Eats
much more rapidly than normal. | | Often
eats alone because of shame or embarrassment. |
| Has
feelings of depression, disgust, or guilt after eating. |
Eating
Disorders Self Assessment
Try
answering the following questions as truthfully as you can.
If
you have answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you may have an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are very serious and can kill.
| |
| 1. | Do
you overeat until you feel sick? | | 2. | Do
you feel guilt and remorse when you eat? | | 3. | Are
you terrified of being overweight? | | 4. | Does
it feel as though food controls your life? | | 5. | Do
you weigh yourself at least once a day? | | 6. | Do
other people say you're thin but you think you're fat? | | 7. | Do
you make yourself vomit? | | 8. | Do
you regularly take laxatives or diuretics to lose weight? | | 9. | Do
you exercise no matter how tired or sick you may feel and feel upset when you
miss a day? | | 10. | Do
you eat or refuse to eat when tense, anxious, or disappointed? | | 11. | Do
you feel exhilarated or "in control" when you don't eat? | | 12. | Have
you taken drugs to curb your appetite? | | 13. | Do
you feel defeated or hopeless about food or your body size? | | 14. | Have
you kept any of these issues secret? |
| 
