EATING DISORDERS
Symptoms and Behaviors
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
-refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal weight for age, height, and activity level
-intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, although underweight
-disturbance with one’s body weight or shape
-denial of seriousness of current low body weight
-in females, absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles
-intolerance to cold
-use of excessive exercise to burn calories
-refusal to eat from a specific food group, often fats and/or carbohydrates
-counts calories or has rituals with food
-experiences several medical issues
-struggles with a perfectionistic personality
BULIMIA NERVOSA
-recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging via vomiting, excessive laxative use, diuretics, enemas, fasting, or excessive exercise
-self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
-the disturbance does not occur
-frequent trips to bathroom immediately after meals
-sore throats and/or swollen glands
-history of relationship problems
-history of substance abuse
BINGE EATING DISORDER
-eats large amounts of food in short period of time
-eats when not hungry to ease stress or to comfort self
-eats for emotional reasons, such as being sad, angry, lonely, or bored
-feels out of control when eating
-eats faster than normal
-eats until painfully full
-feels depressed and guilty after a binge
-often eats alone