Failure to gain weight or height according to growth curve for children
Significant weight loss or gain
Weight loss at any time during childhood or adolescence (even if starting at higher weight)
Constant, recurring nausea
Gastrointestinal upset
Chronic constipation or diarrhea
Fainting, weakness, dehydration
Injuries from overexercise
Pale, dry skin or brittle hair because of lack of nutrients
Requiring nutritional supplements to grow or treat nutritional deficiencies
Increased rigidity and anxiety
Self harm
An inability to recognize that they may be ill (anosognosia)
Flat or blunted affect
Beginning to harm oneself (eg cutting, hitting, hair pulling)
Difficulty sleeping
Irritabilty
Mood swings
Feeling no one would care if they were gone
Feeling never enough or never good enough
Suicidal thoughts
Social isolation
Concerns that social peers are judgemental
Becoming more child like with an inability to express feelings
Exercising purely for weight loss and not for joy
Exercising even when sick or severe weather
Compensating for eating through exercise
Obsessive weightlifting or “bulking” up
Beginning to express dislike of specific body parts
Fixation on perfecting body
Obsessions about being big and muscular
Believing one’s body is too large despite objective reality
Obsessive mirror checking
Obsessive weighing
This is a list to help you identify an eating disorder in your self or a loved one. It is not exhaustive. If you identify with any of these signs, we recommend a professional consultation.
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