first&step

First Steps If You Suspect An Eating Disorder

If you are reading this you may suspect that you or a loved one has an eating disorder.

Find information below about

•Warning Signs For Anorexia
•Warning Signs for Bulimia
•Warning Signs for Binge Eating
•What You Can Do

Warning Signs for Anorexia

Following is the typical progression of anorexia, including warning signs:

✴Anorexia often begins with dieting
✴Dieting becomes more and more rigid and includes skipping meals, drastically cutting calories and becoming more picky
✴There is a denial of hunger/Refusal to eat
✴The person can become obsessed with food, cooking, and nutrition
✴Weight loss becomes obvious
✴Compulsive rituals begin and quickly increase; the obsession worsens
✴Exercise becomes excessive, sometimes up to 4 or 5 hours a day
✴The person offers consistent excuses for avoiding meals or situations involving food
✴Life/conversation is dependent on weight loss/gain
✴Anxiety about being “fat” worsens despite obvious thinness
✴Secrecy and isolation increase, including withdrawal from friends and usual activities
✴Hair and skin are dry and brittle; hair falls out
✴Dizziness and fainting can occur due to low blood pressure
✴The person is often cold and can sometimes have numbness in hands and feet
✴Obsession and denial are excessive; the person refuses to admit he or she has a problem and tells you that you are completely wrong

Warning Signs for Bulimia

✴Evidence of binge-eating: food disappears. Anywhere from 1,000 to 60,000 calories are consumed in one binge.
✴The person uses bathroom and/or shower right after a meal; you may find trash bags or other containers filled with vomit; the person may have to take a walk right after a meal (to find a place to get rid of the food)
✴The bulimic exhibits puffiness, red eyes, red/callused knuckles and/or sore throat
✴Evidence of purging: dirty bathroom, laxative boxes, diet pills
✴The person exercises rigidly and zealously
✴The bulimic exhibits dental erosion, staining
✴Creation of a complex lifestyle schedule to facilitate bingeing and purging
✴Withdrawal from friends and usual activities
✴There can be weight loss, though not always; dieting becomes a primary and constant concern

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU SUSPECT AN EATING DISORDER

1.Talk to the person.

•Pick a peaceful and quiet time, when it is unlikely you will be interrupted.

•Express your concerns lovingly and gently, speaking from the “I” voice (“you” statements may lead them to feel attacked): “I have noticed over the last few months that you are… and I am concerned. I’d love it if you could share what’s going on.”

•Offer them some literature to read. You can print one-page articles from the National Eating Disorders Organization. www.edap.org

•Be prepared for anger, denial, or even possibly relief. People who struggle with an eating disorder often feel very protective of it, as they feel it is the only thing that’s theirs. Thinking that you are trying to take it away could make them very angry. They might also feel a lot of shame, which gets acted out in denial. Or they might be at the point where they are sick and tired of the disease, at which point they might actually feel great relief.

•If you don’t think the person is medically threatened, give them some time to think about it and approach them again in a few days.

2.See a professional. They can perform an assessment that can accurately tell you or your loved one have an eating disorder.

•If you child is under 18 and you are the legal guardian, the first step is to take him or her to the pediatrician to get her a physical. The doctor will weigh the child and test for physiological consequences (e.g. heart rate, electrolyte imbalance, etc..) to determine if the eating disorder is creating harm to the child’s body. If you or your loved one is over 18, go see your primary care physician.

•Get an assessment by a specialist in eating disorders, whether it’d be a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist. Eating disorders are both physiological and psychological diseases. You need to assess both.

After both of these consultations, you will have more specific information about the diagnosis and treatment plan. The journey to recovery can be long and difficult, but it can also change people’s lives in deep and meaningful ways. The more support everyone involved can receive the better.

Warning Signs of Binge Eating