Ten Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders most often begin during the adolescent years. Although eating disorders can be very serious, the majority of patients recover if discovered and treated early. If you are worried that your child may have an eating disorder, discuss your concerns with your pediatrician or health care provider. It may be helpful to review this list with them. Two or more positive signs should prompt further evaluation.

Adolescent medicine specialists are particularly skilled in determining whether your teen or young adult child has an eating disorder, implementing an effective treatment plan, and guiding them through the recovery process.

Ten Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

1. Progressive weight loss, especially if coupled with persistent concerns and comments about “being fat.” Preoccupation with body appearance. Rapid weight loss even if overweight.
2. Constipation; bowel movement frequency less than every other day and/or hard stools which are difficult to pass.
3. Frequent stomach aches, reflux of stomach contents, or heartburn.
4. Absence of two or more menstrual periods, or not menstruating by age 16. Athletes with missed periods should be evaluated; it is not normal for a woman of reproductive age to stop menstruating.
5. Use of laxatives, diet pills, teas, or herbal products marketed for weight loss or energy. Use of amphetamines, cocaine, or other substances which suppress appetite.
6. Preoccupation with preparing food (especially desserts) for family members without eating the prepared foods. Skipping meals. Ritualistic eating behavior: cutting food into tiny pieces, taking too long to eat, eating all of one type of food on the plate before starting another, etc.
7. Change in eating habits: “eating healthy,” “eating clean,” or becoming vegetarian or vegan. Frequently “on a diet.” Elimination of food categories, such as red meat, fats, gluten, dairy, etc. Calorie counting. Progressive narrowing of types of food eaten; requests for special foods to be purchased and eating only those foods.
8. Large quantities of food missing from the house without explanation.
9. Disappearance into the bathroom directly after eating.
10. Compulsive exercise: doing bedroom leg-lifts, crunches, etc. Working out more than an hour at a time running alone outside, or on a cardiovascular machine. Exercising seven days a week, even when sick with a cold or flu.

Call 310-325-4353 to schedule an appointment with one of our adolescent medicine specialists or visit us at www.torrancememorial.org/EatingDisorders