Eating Disorder Symptoms Checklist
It is important to be able to assess if you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, and 1 in 5 people are. These questions will help to show eating disorder symptoms, though the behaviors can vary.
Do you ever feel to full and want to get rid of the food or calories?
Clearly this question will indicate bulimic behaviors. It is important to note, you do not necessarily have to make yourself vomit in order to be bulimic. There are many other ways a person tries to get rid of food when they feel they have overeaten. These methods include: exercise, laxative use, restriction, etc.
Do you feel out of control with food?
It is very typical to feel out of control with food when you have an eating disorder. This feeling is associated with bulimia, binge eating, and compulsive overeating disorders. It is important to seek help if you or someone you know is feeling like this.
Has your weight dropped 15 pounds or more recently?
Obviously this question is pointing at anorexic behaviors. Do note, this is excessive weight loss from any starting weight. The individual suffering with anorexic habits may not actually be underweight. If someone starts out at a weight above normal, they can lose a lot of weight and still appear healthy. It is just as crucial for a person who remains in a normal range to get treatment for their disorder.
Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
If there is a big difference between how you see yourself and others see you, there is a problem. The inability to see yourself accurately is called body dysmorphic disorder. This disorder is commonly linked with eating disorders and requires professional treatment.
Would you say that food dominates your life?
All types of eating disorders will struggle with this issue. When struggling with an eating disorder, a person’s thoughts will be consumed with a focus on body and food. A person cannot enjoy their life when they are wrapped up in constant distracting thoughts about food. The world around them will go unnoticed and unexperienced when a person can think of nothing else.
You are probably struggling with an eating disorder if you answered yes to at least two of the above questions. Recovery from an eating disorder requires professional treatment. Though some people have been able to quit engaging in behaviors alone, their underlying problems have not be solved. If someone is dealing with the above thoughts or scenarios, it is critical to immediately seek treatment.
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