NEDA TOOLKIT for Educators
Physical • Sudden weight loss, gain, or fluctuation in short
time • Complaints of abdominal pain
• Feeling full or “bloated”
• Feeling faint, cold, or tired
• Dark circles under the eyes or bloodshot eyes/
burst capillaries around eyes
• Calluses on the knuckles from self-induced
vomiting • Dry hair or skin, dehydration, blue hands/feet
• Lanugo hair (fine body hair)
• Fainting or dizziness upon standing; frequent
fatigue • Thinning, dry hair
Behavioral • Diets or chaotic food intake; pretends to eat,
then throws away food; skips meals
• Creates rigid dietary rules or observes strict
diet without medical or religious reason
• Exercises for long periods and with obsessional
attitude; exercises excessively every day (can’t
miss a day)
• Constantly talks about food; unwilling to
share food; hoards food; refuses to eat food
prepared by others or without knowing exact
ingredients • Difficulty sitting still: hovers over chair instead
of sitting, constantly jiggles legs, gets up from
desk at every opportunity, offers to run errands
• Makes frequent trips to the bathroom
• Makes lists of foods and calories eaten
• Wears very baggy clothes to hide a very thin
body (anorexia) or weight gain (binge eating
disorder) or to hide a “normal” body because
of concerns about body shape/size
• Avoids cafeteria, works through lunch, eats
alone • Shows some type of compulsive behavior (e.g.,
compulsive hand washing; hoarding; repetitive
movements/speech; need for constant
reassurance) • Denies difficulty with food or body image
despite evidence that it is an area of concern
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