Common Symptoms of Eating Disorders 
Someone might be suffering from an eating disorder if he or she:
 
- Has had a big weight loss in a relatively short period of time. 
 - Wears big or baggy clothes, or dresses in layers to hide body shape. 
 - Seems obsessed with weight and complains about weight problems (even if they're "average" weight or thin). 
 - Seems obsessed with calories and fat content of foods. 
 - Seems obsessed with exercising all the time. 
 - Often makes trips to the bathroom right after meals (sometimes with water running to hide the sound of vomiting). 
 - Starves himself or herself, or limits food.  
 - Eats a lot of food at once, then makes himself or herself vomit. 
 - Uses or hides the use of diet pills, laxatives, ipecac syrup, or enemas. 
 - Seems to be afraid of eating near or with others. 
 - Has strange food habits such as shifting the food around on the plate to look eaten; cutting food into tiny pieces; making sure the fork never touches the lips (using teeth to scrap food off the fork or spoon); chewing food and spitting it out, but not swallowing; dropping food into napkin on lap to later throw away. 
 - Hides food in strange places (closets, cabinets, suitcases, under the bed) to avoid eating (Anorexia) or to eat at a later time (Bulimia). 
 - Flushes uneaten food down the toilet. 
 - Visits Web sites that promote unhealthy ways to lose weight. 
 - Reads books about weight loss and eating disorders. 
 - Says bad things about himself or herself after eating.  
 - Seems to be losing hair, or has a pale or "grey" skin complexion.
 - Suffers often from dizziness and headaches. 
 - Has lots of sore throats and/or swollen glands. 
 - Has low self-esteem or feels "worthless." 
 - Complains often about feeling cold. 
 - Has bruised or callused knuckles; bloodshot or bleeding in the eyes; light bruising under the eyes and on the cheeks. 
 - Has mood swings, depression, or is tired all the time.  
 - Is having trouble sleeping.
  
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