How can I tell if my child or someone I know might have an eating disorder?
An unhealthy relationship with food can lead to eating disorders, which have serious emotional and physical effects. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating are fairly well-known eating disorders, but some eating disorders don’t fit into one of those categories. Some people severely restrict food intake without developing other symptoms of anorexia, some binge and purge on an irregular basis so it doesn’t fit the symptoms of bulimia, and others may chew food then spit it out without swallowing. This assessment can help if your child or someone you know has suspicious eating behaviors, but they don’t seem to have anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating or you’re not sure which it may be. Answer these questions to learn more about the symptoms of eating disorders in general and help you determine whether your child or someone you know might suffer from an eating disorder.