Warning Signs of Eating Disorders

Eating Disorders Can Lead to Serious Illness and Even Death if Untreated

BULIMIA

• Engages in binge eating
• Reacts to emotional stress by overeating
• Uses the bathroom frequently after eating
• Cannot voluntarily stop eating
• Purges using laxatives, diuretics, and/or vomits to control weight
• Feels out of control and guilty about eating
• Has depressive moods
• Alternates between binges and fasts
• Menstrual irregularities
• Is preoccupied with weight

ANOREXIA

• Is preoccupied with food, calories, and weight
• Continues to diet or restrict foods even though not overweight
• Is thin and keeps getting thinner, to a critical level
• Exercises obsessively
• Loses his/her hair or hair begins to thin
• Menstrual irregularities
• Has a distorted body image: feels "fat" even though is thin
• Has depressive moods
• Denies hunger; has an intense fear of becoming fat

COMPULSIVE OVEREATERS

• Engages in episodic or daily uncontrollable overeating
• Feels out of control
• Reacts to emotional stress by overeating
• Cannot voluntarily stop eating
• Is noticeably overweight
• Tries diets but they usually fail
• Is concerned with immediate gratification
• Has trouble dealing with limitations