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

The National Eatting Disorder Infromation Center, September, 1988, for educational purposes.