Students - Self Help
Eating Disorders: Signs and Symptoms
PHYSICAL
- Significant weight loss of 15% or more of person's expected weight for the person's height
- Loss of menstruation
- Downy-like hair growth on face and arms
- No energy
- Permanent tooth damage from vomiting
- Tissue damage to throat & esophagus
- Seizures
- Kidney damage
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Scrape marks on back of fingers as a result of repeated attempts to purge
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL
- Preoccupation with body weight
- Distorted body image
- Intense fear of becoming obese, which doesn't diminish as weight loss progresses
- Refusal to maintain normal body weight
- Fear of not being able to stop eating voluntarily
- Has very strict rules surrounding food
BEHAVIORAL
- Episodic binge eating
- Hides food
- Plays with food on plate at mealtimes, but eats very little
- Repeated attempts to lose weight by utilizing severely restrictive diets, self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives/enemas/ diuretics,
appetite suppressants, or vigorous/excessive exercise
- Frequent trips to the bathroom right after meals
- Constant weighing of self
