A Short List of Salient Warning Signs For Eating Disorders
© Michael Levine, Ph.D.
(May be copied for educational purposes only)
(1) Preocupation with food, weight, calories, and dieting, to the extent that it constantly intrudes on conversations and interferes with other activities.
(2) Excessive, rigid, exercise regimen - despite the fatigue, weather, illness, and injury, the need to "burn off" calories taken in.
(3) The avoidence of numerous activities because of body weight and shape concerns.
(4) Expressions of anxiety about being fat which do not diminish as weight is lost.
(5) Evidence of self-induced (or secretive) vomiting, such as:
(6) Evidence of use of laxatives, diuretics, purgatives, enemas, or emetics.
(7) Evidence of binge-eating, including hoarding and/or stealing food,or compusation of huge amounts of food inconsistant with the person's weight.
(8) Alternating periods of severely restrictive dieting and overeating; these phasic fluctuations may be accompained by dramatic weight fluctuations of 10 pounds or more.
(9) Inexplicable problems with mensturation and/or fertility.
(10) Extreme concern about appereance as a defining feature of self-esteem , often accompanied by dichotomous, perfectionistic thinking.
(11) Paleness and complaints of lightheadedness or disequilibrium not accounted for by other medical problems.