Self-image
- distorted body image
- low self-esteem
- feelings of worthlessness
- perfectionist personality
- mood swings
- depression
General health
- hair loss
- dizziness and headaches
- frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands
- low blood pressure
- loss of menstrual cycle
- constipation of incontinence
- fatigue
- frequent complaints of feeling cold
- insomnia or poor sleep
Other possible signs
- inordinate amounts of exercise
- dramatic weight loss in a short period of time
- wearing baggy clothing
- loss of sexual desire, or promiscuous relations
Possible eating behaviors
- restricting calorie intake
- binge eating
- eating in secrecy
- fear of eating with others
- unusual food rituals
- cutting food into tiny pieces
- extreme preoccupation with food
- obsession with calories and fat content of foods
- visible food restriction and self- starvation
- purging
- shifting food around on the plate so it looks like it has been eaten
- making sure the fork does not contact the lips during eating
- chewing food and spitting it out, but not swallowing
- dropping food into a napkin on the lap, or hiding it in strange places to avoid eating it, or to eat it at a later time
- flushing uneaten food down the toilet
- vague or secretive eating patterns
- visiting web sites that promote unhealthy ways to lose weight
- reading books about weight loss and eating