Eating Disorder
This information should not be used to clinical diagnosis any particular persons. The purpose of this information is to assist the GSU campus community in our efforts to respond to distressed students.
Eating Disorders are identified by unhealthy or obsessive behaviors/thoughts in one's eating behavior. The two most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Anorexia is typically characterized as voluntary starvation. On the other hand, Bulimia is characterized as one's voluntary cycle of binging and purging. When these disorders become overbearing or too extreme they begin to interfere with one's ability to function in school, work, or personal life.
Potential Eating Disorder Signs
- Obsession with food or dieting
- Ritual-like behaviors related to food
- Secretive eating
- Binging/ Purging (Excessive vomiting, exercise, laxative use)
- Distorted body image
- Self-defeating statements
- Light bruising under the eyes and cheeks
- Mood swings, depression, fatigue
- Fear of lack of control
- Obsession with calories & fat content of foods
- Serve life regiment
Early intervention
- Let this person know you have noticed changes and offer assistance.
- Encourage person to discuss changes.
- Offer options to look further into and/or manage eating disorder (Counseling Services, Mental Health Professional, Clergy)
Avoid
- Playing "watch dog" to the person eating or not eating
- Being afraid to ask
This information is based on the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR) and the National Eating Disorder Association.
