Signs
and Symptoms
• eating habits that differ significantly from family and
friends
• preferring to eat alone rather than with others
• avoiding social occasions that involve food
• seeing yourself as "fatter" than others
• feeling it is important to be thinner that everyone else
• cessation or irregularities of menstrual cycle
• thoughts about food taking up most of your time
• weighing yourself frequently, or avoiding weighing
yourself
• becoming angry when people tell you what to eat
• enjoying preparing meals for others but not allowing
yourself to eat it
• feeling that you would be happier if you were thinner
• fasting, vomiting, over-exercising, abusing laxatives or
diuretics as a means of weight control
• perfectionistic views
• bingeing, uncontrollably, on large amounts of food to the
point where you feel sick
• starting new diets constantly
• headaches, dizziness, faintness
• diminished ability and interest in forming relationships
• poor concentration
• depression and disturbed sleeping pattern
If you recognize some of these symptoms in yourself you may
have, or may be developing, an eating disorder. Talk to
someone you trust about this. You might want to complete
the Eating
Attitudes Test (EAT 26).
