Signs of an Eating Disorder

Their child is excessively concerned about their weight.
Their child is engaging in inappropriate dieting.
Their child has a pattern of weight loss.
Their child has delayed or interrupted puberty (which may include loss of periods).
Their child has failed to achieve appropriate increases in weight or height and should be growing.

Notice that your child frequently makes excuses to get out of eating.
Observe that your child is constantly dieting.
Observe that your child no longer eats as the family traditionally eats (such as becoming vegan when the family consumes meat and dairy products).
Find evidence that your child is not completing meals when away from parents (such as bringing home unfinished lunches and/or snacks from school).
Notice that your child is not gaining weight or growing as expected.

Notice that they visit the bathroom immediately after meals.
Find evidence of laxative, diuretic, or diet pill use (such charges on a credit card or delivery service account or hidden packaging from used products).
Find emesis (vomit) hidden in bags or containers in their room.
Find evidence that your child is chewing and spitting (such as finding chewed food in napkins after a meal).

Find hidden wrappers or evidence of food consumed in private, such as under their bed, in their closet or drawers.
Notice large quantities of food are missing from the fridge or pantry
Find food hoarded in a private place such as their room for later binge eating.
Notice excessive charges for food, especially for fast food or food delivery services.
Observe that at times your child seems to lose control of eating, eats large volumes of food and/or eats very fast, which may at times result in unintentional vomiting after eating.

Notice that your child eats very few foods, often missing some food groups entirely (such as fruits or vegetables).
Find that your child will only eat foods that are very brand, temperature and texture specific (such as eating only one brand of chicken nuggets prepared a certain way).
Be concerned that your child is not consuming adequate volume of food and rely heavily on supplements such as milkshakes or prepared meal-replacements (such as Boost or Ensure)
Observe that your child will not eat if preferred foods are not available (such as when away at camps or friends’ houses.

New to F.EA.S.T.? Start Here!