Counseling for Eating Disorders | Support & Resources

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

Counseling Center - Eating Disorders

Contact Information