Signs of Anorexia Nervosa
or
Bulimia Nervosa
- preoccupation with food, weignt (counting calories, excessive dieting)
- claims of "feeling fat" when weight is normal or low
- guilt and shame about eatting
- frequent weighing
- evidence of binge-eatting
- hoarding of food
- use of laxatives, diuretics, purgatives, emetics, excessive exercise
- secretive vomiting: leaving for the bathroom immediately after a meal
- moodiness, irritability, and depression
- inflexibility
- low self-esteem
- need for perfection
- social withdrawal and intolerance of others
- oversensitivity to criticism
- extreme concern about appearances, both physical and behavioural
- dichotomous thinking (thinking in extremes: "If I'm not thin, I'll
be grossly obese.")
Specific Signs of Anorexia Nervosa
- significant weight loss in the absence of related illness
- significant reduction in eatting, coupled with a denial of hunger
- dieting when not "over" weight
- signs of starvation: thinning of hair; hair loss; appearance of
fine raised, white hair, (lanugo) on the body; bloated feeling;
yellowish appearance of the palms or aoles of feet; dry, pasty skin
- amenorrhea in women
- unusual eatting habits: preference for foods of a certain texture or
colour, compulsively arranging food, unusual mistures of food
Specific Signs of Bulimia Nervosa
- evidence of binge-eatting: actual observation, verbal reprts, large
amounts of food missing, stealing of money or food
- frequent weight fluctuations
- evidence of purging (vomiting, laxative/diuretic abuse, emetics,
frequent fasting)
- excessive exercise
- swelling of parotid glands under the jaw (caused by frequent vomiting)
- frequent, unusual dental problems
Taken from Eatting Disorders: an Overview. Toronto,
Ontario: The National Eatting Disorder Infromation Center,
September, 1988, for educational purposes.
Tips for Coping with an Anorexic or Bulimic Person