Are you trying to determine if someone has an eating disorder, such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa?  Here are some telltale signs.

• Are they secretive about eating (and the time after eating)? This secrecy gives the individual time to binge and purge.
• Do they exhibit strange bathroom habits? (They might also make frequent trips to the bathroom after meals). Watch for signs and smells of vomiting, evidence of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive desire for privacy in the bedroom or bathroom.
• Do they exhibit odd eating behavior? Like avoiding eating with other people, or sudden (or violent) dietary preferences. Maybe they skip meals or only eat tiny portions when eating with others.
• Do they drink a lot of water or diet soda (to make vomiting easier); cut or chew their food excessively, and separate different types of food on the plate?
• Do they eat unusually large amounts of food, with no apparent change in weight?
• Do they have an excessively rigid exercise regimen?
• Do they seem to have complex lifestyle schedules/rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions?
• Do they use mints or gum to cover up the smell of vomit, run water in the bathroom to conceal the sound of vomiting, or refuse close contact?
• Are they preoccupied with their body weight, weight loss, dieting, and control of food? Do they wear baggy clothes to hide the body? Do they avoid looking into mirrors?
• Sometimes bulimics have discolored/callused finger joints or backs of the hands as jamming the fingers down the throat damages the outer surfaces of the hands.
• Do they have tooth and mouth issues, such as discolored teeth, and swollen cheeks?
• Intestinal irregularities, such as constant constipation or diarrhea are also common.
• Irregular/nonexistent menstrual periods.

Tags: Anorexia, Bulimia, Eating Disorder, Health, how to

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