Eating Disorders Resource Center

The following are physical, behavioral and emotional signs and symptoms of eating disorders. If you are concerned that you or a loved one may be suffering, it is important to seek professional help. 

What if you suspect or know that someone has an eating disorder? Should you say something? What would you say? Should you talk to the person who has the problem or someone else?

The most important thing to remember is that bringing up the subject of an eating disorder with a person who is suffering from one can be a tremendous help. It plants the seed about your concern for what she/he is doing and brings her/his focus to the issue. Even though it may be difficult, saying something is better than ignoring a dangerous and painful behavior.

Eating disorders are both psychological health and physical health issues, and require more than just weight gain and nutritional counseling to overcome. Complex family, social, and individual psychological issues or biochemical predispositions often impact eating disorders. These complex factors may cause an individual to turn to starving, binge eating, purging, or compulsively exercising as a means of coping.

The most important thing to know about eating disorders treatment is that early intervention makes a difference in success! The sooner an individual suffering from an eating disorder receives treatment, the more likely she or he will be to recover.