There are physical, psychological and behavioural warning signs that can signal the onset or the presence of an eating disorder and it is common for someone to display a combination of these symptoms.

It is important to be aware of the following:

Physical warning signs

• Rapid weight loss or frequent changes in weight
• Loss of or disturbance of menstrual periods in girls and women
• Fainting or dizziness
• Always feeling tired and not sleeping well
• Swelling around the cheeks or jaw, calluses on knuckles, damage to teeth and bad breath which can be signs of vomiting
• Feeling cold most of the time, even in warm weather

Psychological warning signs

• Preoccupation with eating, food, body shape and weight
• Feeling anxious around meal times
• Feeling ‘out of control’ around food
• Having a distorted body image
• Feeling obsessed with body shape, weight and appearance
• ‘Black and white’ thinking - rigid thoughts about food being ‘good’ or ‘bad’
• Changes in emotional and psychological state - depression, stress, anxiety, irritability, low self esteem
• Using food as a source of comfort (e.g. eating as a way to deal with boredom, stress or depression)
• Using food as self punishment (e.g. refusing to eat due to depression, stress or other emotional reasons)

Behavioural warning signs

• Dieting behaviour (e.g. fasting, counting calories/kilojoules, avoiding food groups such as fats and carbohydrates)
• Eating in private and avoiding meals with other people
• Evidence of binge eating (e.g. disappearance of large amounts of food)
• Frequent trips to the bathroom during or shortly after meals
• Vomiting or using laxatives, enemas or diuretics
• Changes in clothing style (e.g. wearing baggy clothes)
• Compulsive or excessive exercising (e.g. exercising in bad weather, in spite of sickness, injury or social events; and experiencing distress if exercise is not possible)
• Making lists of good or bad foods
• Suddenly disliking food they have always enjoyed in the past
• Obsessive rituals around food preparation and eating (e.g. eating very slowly, cutting food into very small pieces, insisting that meals are served at exactly the same time everyday)
• Extreme sensitivity to comments about body shape, weight, eating and exercise habits
• Secretive behaviour around food (e.g. saying they have eaten when they haven’t, hiding uneaten food in their rooms)

It is important to remember that due to the nature of an eating disorder some of these characteristic behaviours may be concealed.

Become a member:
Join now

Find support in your local area:
Find help now

Eating disorders information:
Fact sheets