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Eating Disorders: Common Warning Signs

Do I (or my friend) have an eating disorder?

Do you spend so much time in your waking hours thinking about weight, body image, and food that it interferes with your happiness, relationships with friends and family, or daily functioning?

How to talk to someone who might have an eating disorder

  • Gather the facts. Realize and accept that no action may be taken after the first conversation.
  • Remain calm and express your concern using “I” statements – shame is a part of any eating disorder or addiction. It’s important not to blame or make assumptions about what someone else is going through.
  • Listen with empathy and care
  • Suggest getting help. Resources like  ANAD’s helpline/website are available to help connect people to an eating disorders professional

How to help if someone doesn’t want help

  • Find a middle ground between forcing the issue and ignoring it.
  • Ask if they want help making the first call or appointment. They may just need support making that first call.
  • Sometimes it takes several tries before a person identifies the right clinician to help with their eating disorder. Remember that though eating disorders share commonalities, everyone is unique.
  • Even though these conversations are difficult, often people just need a little support and compassion. Not talking about it only encourages feelings of being isolated, ignored, and unimportant.  The best thing you can do is to listen and to let the person know you care about them, are concerned for them, and want to help.

When speaking with someone about eating disorders, you may be met with ambivalence, denial or reasons why the person doesn’t feel they need or want help. Try not to be discouraged, because simply having the conversation can open the door to more communication. For more tips and resources, on this topic, download the Support at Every Stage Guide.

Get Help

We invite you to consider contacting our Helpline or Referrals service for help.

Do I have an eating disorder graphic

Common Warning Signs Associated with Eating Disorders

Detecting an eating disorder can be a layered and sensitive topic. A big indicator might be a noticeable change in a person’s attitudes towards food and their body. While there are more specific signs depending on diagnosis, it’s important to note that not everyone fits neatly into these categories. All eating concerns deserve immediate attention.

Emotional / Behavioral

  • Weight loss, dieting, and control of food are primary concerns
  • Food rituals
  • Social withdrawal
  • Frequent dieting, body checking
  • Extreme mood swings

Physical

  • Noticeable weight fluctuations
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • Dizziness upon standing
  • Difficulty concentrating, sleeping
  • Issues with dental, skin, hair, and nail health

Eating Disorder Warning Signs

Detecting an eating disorder can be a layered and sensitive topic. A big indicator might be a noticeable change in a person’s attitudes towards food and their body. While there are more specific signs depending on diagnosis, it’s important to note that not everyone fits neatly into these categories. All eating concerns deserve immediate attention.

Changes in a person’s attitude toward food and body image can indicate an eating disorder. While signs may vary, all eating concerns
deserve immediate attention. An important question to consider is do you spend so much time in your waking hours thinking about weight,
body image, and food that it interferes with your happiness, relationships with friends and family, or daily functioning?

Behavioral Warning Signs

Spending a lot of time thinking about food, dieting or body image | Social withdrawal | Rigid food rituals or habits | Frequent dieting, body checking | Excessive exercise

Physical Warning Signs

Feeling dizzy or faint, especially upon standing | Weight loss or fluctuations | Gastrointestinal complaints (bloating, constipation, or diarrhea) | Issues with hair, teeth, hair, or skin | Amenorrhea (missed period) or delayed signs of puberty

Psychological Warning Signs

Change in mood or personality | Fixation on perfection | Anxiety, depression | Irritability around meal time | Slowed thinking

Mental Health America Eating Disorder Screening Tool

Get Screened

Find Treatment Providers

ANAD Directory

ANAD Peer Support Options

Find Support

Learn More About Eating Disorders

Learn More

Concerned about a friend or loved one?

Approaching someone about a potential eating disorder requires a delicate balance of empathy, nonjudgment, and directness. It’s less about “fixing” them and more about opening a door for support. ANAD has developed several resources to help you navigate these challenging conversations. Please call the ANAD Helpline at 1-888-375-7767 if there is anything we can do to help support you during this time!

PDF: How To Talk With Someone You ’re Concerned About

PDF: Support At Every Stage Approach Guide

ANAD Peer Support Options

We’ve created this page as a central location with practical tips and tools for supporting your loved one through their eating disorder recovery journey.

Learn More

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Yoga

  • Reconnect with one’s body
    • Promotes mind-body connection, awareness of self, and acceptance.
  • Stress and anxiety reduction
    • Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting our body’s stress responses.
    • Deep, slow breathing can reduce cortisol  levels (stress hormone) and help calm our minds.
  • Intentional movement
    • Yoga provides a space to mindfully enjoy movement and explore a healthy form of exercise.
  • Long term healing
    • Provides a practice to safely and sustainably lean into.
  • A space for community and support
    • Oftentimes, yoga is done in a group setting, which can increase feelings of connection and lower feelings of loneliness.

After the completion of 7–12 yoga classes, a statistically significant decrease in anxiety, depression, and body image disturbance was seen (Hall et al., 2016).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

Some classes are targeted for rigorous exercise, such as “heated flow” or “power flow.” Please be mindful with what you practice, and look for “slow flow,” “yin,” “vinyasa,” and “restorative” yoga in non-heated rooms.

Music

  • Music can have a powerful effect on people’s mood

    • listening to uplifting or calming songs can help reduce stress and anxious feelings.
  • Music stimulates the limbic system, the part of our brain responsible for processing emotions
    • music triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress (which are often associated with eating disorders)
  • Slow tempo music has been shown to decrease cortisol, our stress hormone, as well as lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate.
  • Music increases the brains neuroplasticity, enhancing brain functions like mood regulation, decision making, and memory.

A study done by Mindlab International revealed that the song “Weightless” by Marconi Union resulted in a 65% reduction in participants’ overall anxiety (Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • Ludovico Einaudi
  • Claude Debussy
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
  • José González
  • Laraaji
  • Bill Evans
  • Vance Joy
  • The Paper Kites
  • Moby
  • Tycho

Aromatherapy

  • Aromatherapy can be a helpful, low- cost (or free) tool for people managing eating disorders.
  • Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to help manage emotions and restore balance.
  • Scents can help ground people, encouraging mindfulness about physical and emotional sensations.
  • Can promote a tranquil environment and give a sense (& scent) of peace.
    • creates an atmosphere for individuals to feel safe in processing emotions

Lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety levels. It is seen as a “anxiolytic” solution to providing a coping method for those with anxiety disorders (Yoo & Park, 2023).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

 

  • Lavender: calm, sleep, relax
  • Chamomile: calm
  • Rose: anxiety reduction
  • Lemon: energy, nausea reduction, concentration
  • Orange: brighten, uplift
  • Jasmine: anxiety reduce, sleep
  • Peppermint: alertness
  • Ylang ylang: calming, stress and anxiety reduction
  • Rosemary: focus

Art

  • Art can help provide a safe space for communication.
  • It can promote a sense of relaxation, and become a calming, meditative like experience (especially in “flow state”).
  • Gives an outlet and coping mechanism for managing difficult emotions.
  • Helps develop healthy habits and routines for self-management.
  • Increases an individuals sense of awareness and understanding of their emotions and thoughts.

Art can boost cognitive function, emotional resilience and self-confidence. It has also been shown to reduce stress and aid in conflict resolution (Hudson University, 2024).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • Coloring books
  • Digital coloring or drawing
  • Collaging
  • Sketchbook/journaling/ diary
  • Painting
  • Water coloring
  • Air dry clay (model magic) or traditional clay (ceramics)
  • Photography (use your phone!)
  • So much more!

Creative Journaling & Writing

  • Journaling allows space for self reflection, and emotional release.
  • Free writing can help you connect to your inner voice without judgment.
    • This can look like a steam on consciousness, a short story, or even poetry.
  • Both of these can give you space to problem solve, and look at a situation from a new angle.
  • Try out a prompt, or guided writing exercise if free writing isn’t your thing.
    • Examples & resources below!

Positive writing has been shown to promote positive emotions, as well as positive cognitive mechanisms in the general population (Lai et al., 2023).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

  • What are three things I’m grateful for today?
  • Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to tell them?
  • Write about a positive affirmation you want to start telling yourself.
  • How do you like to relax? Write about your favorite way to unwind.
  • What does “peace” look like to you? How can you bring more of it into your life?
  • What is something that always makes you laugh or brings you joy?

Self-Care / Self-Talk

Positive Self Talk

  • Positive affirmations are short, encouraging statements that can help build our self-esteem and challenge negative thoughts.
  • Repeating these statements daily can help foster a more loving relationship with yourself over time.
    • “Mirror-work” is when you look into the mirror and say kind, positive affirmations to yourself. It might feel awkward at first.
    • Try statements such as “I am enough,” “I am deserving of all the good things life has to offer,” or “I am strong, capable, and confident in everything I do.”
  • This can help build mental resilience, making it easier to cope with challenges and setbacks.
  • They can elevate your mood and promote a more optimistic view of life.
  • They help build confidence and self-worth by focusing on your strengths and capabilities.

Self Care

  • Self-care directly impacts emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
  • Engaging in regular self care practices helps maintain balance and resilience, ensuring we can cope with life’s challenges.
  • Regular self-care allows the body and mind to recover, recharge, and maintain a sense of calm.
  • Taking care of yourself helps prevent burnout by ensuring you have the energy and mental capacity to meet the demands of life.
    • Without regular self care, you may become overwhelmed, leading to fatigue, frustration, and decreased productivity.
  • Giving yourself mental space helps clear your mind, improving focus, decision-making, and problem-solving.
  • Allows you to engage in activities that bring you joy, pleasure, and fulfillment. These experiences elevate mood and provide moments of peace and happiness.

Positive Self Talk

Affirming personal values has been linked to boosting ones happiness and meaning in life (Nelson et al., 2014). MRI’s show that self- affirmations affect brain activity! (Cascio et al., 2015).

Self Care

“Engaging in a self- care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy and more. From a physical health perspective, it has also been clinically proven to reduce heart disease, stroke and cancer” (Glowiak, 2024).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

POSITIVE SELF TALK

 

SELF CARE

  • Up to personal preference, ideas listed in the guide
  • Sleep: Make sure you get enough hours in
  • Making time for hobbies: painting, gardening, etc.
  • Doing chores: cleaning dishes, doing laundry, cleaning space, decluttering
  • Spending time outdoors: taking nature walks, sitting in a park
  • Being with people you love: friends, family, partners
  • Reading or learning: something of interest, and limiting technology/screen time
  • Personal care: shower, bath, deep breathing, meditation, massaging
  • Treating yourself: occasionally indulging yourself with something you love (ex: buying a new book, or a coffee from your favorite shop)
  • Mental care: attending peer support groups (for free with ANAD!), going to therapy (we can help connect you with someone)