Eating Disorders Program: Warning Signs

Early Warning Signs

When your loved one...

• Seems obsessed with weight

• Weighs herself more than once a day

• Exercises alone, for long periods

• Eats or refuses food when sad or upset

• Counts calories or fat grams

• Avoids eating with others

• Tries to be perfect, always pleasing others

If many of these are true, get help as a family to work on self-esteem, and emotional expressing to prevent a more serious problem.

More Serious Signs

When your loved one...

• Loses weight or goes up and down in weight
• Eats considerably less, avoiding meals as much as possible
• Becomes secretive about eating
• Binges or eats till she feels sick or exhausted
• Cooks for others but won't eat it
• Becomes upset when unable to exercise
• Appears depressed, moody, irritable, or isolated.

Find a dietitian familiar with eating disorders and a therapist to assess the situation and make recommendations for treatment.

Definite Distress Signals

When your loved one...

• Fasts or severely restricts food intake
• Hides or sneaks food
• Spends excessive time in the bathroom after meals
• Vomits, takes laxatives, diet pills or other medications to lose weight
• Has lost a significant amount of weight
• Is tired and depressed
• Can't Concentrate
• Has irregular periods, swollen glands or joints, broken blood vessels or bloodshot eyes.
• Wears layers of clothes even in warm weather
• Faints or passes out

You and your loved one need professional help. Make an appointment with her physician and with an expert in eating disorders to find out how serious this is and design a treatment plan to help you cope with this.

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