A whole range of issues may be behind the eating disordered choices of an individual. Eating disorders may begin as a way to smoke screen other concerns and may be a symptom of thoughts, behaviors and feelings over which the person does not feel control. These other concerns may be the catalysts for restricting caloric intake or for binge-purge cycles. Either of these can result in serious health problems and even death. Red flags for use in the early identification of eating disorders are as follows.
Anorexia Nervosa
- Loss of menstrual period
- Dieting with relish when not overweight
- Claiming to feel "fat" when not overweight
- Distorted body image
- Preoccupation with food, calories, nutrition and/or cooking
- Denial of hunger
- Excessive exercising, being overly active
- Frequent weighing
- Refusal to maintain weight expected for age and height
- Intense fear of gaining weight or being fat
- Strange food-related behaviors
- Complaints of feeling bloated or nauseated when eating normal amounts of food
- Intermittent episodes of "binge-eating"
Bulimia Nervosa
- Excessive concern about weight
- Strict dieting followed by eating binges
- Frequent overeating, especially when distressed
- Bingeing on high calorie, sweet food
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating
- Use of laxatives, over-exercising, enemas, diuretics, fasting and/or vomiting to control weight
- Leaving for the bathroom after meals (secretive vomiting)
- Being secretive about binges and vomiting
- Planning binges or opportunities to binge
- Feeling out of control
- Depressive moods
Help is available. Call the University Counseling Center at 501-279-4347.
RESOURCES
www.NationalEatingDisorders.org
National Eating Disorders Association
www.EDReferral.com
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Service
www.anad.org
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders
www.anred.com
Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders
www.foodaddictsanonymous.org
Food Addicts Anonymous
Phone: 561-967-3871
www.overcomingovereating.com
National Center for Overcoming Overeating
Phone: 212-875-0442
www.oa.org
Overeaters Anonymous General Service Office
Phone: 505-891-2664; Fax: 505-891-4320
