NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Signs of Bulimia Nervosa
• In general, behaviors and attitudes indicate
that weight loss, dieting, and control of food
are becoming primary concerns
• Evidence of binge eating, including
disappearance of large amounts of food in
short periods of time or lots of empty wrappers
and containers indicating consumption of large
amounts of food
• Evidence of purging behaviors, including
frequent trips to the bathroom after meals,
signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of
wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics
• Appears uncomfortable eating around others
• Develops food rituals (e.g. eats only a particular
food or food group [e.g. condiments], excessive
chewing, doesn’t allow foods to touch)
• Skips meals or takes small portions of food at
regular meals
• Steals or hoards food in strange places
• Drinks excessive amounts of water
• Uses excessive amounts of mouthwash, mints,
and gum
• Hides body with baggy clothes
• Maintains excessive, rigid exercise regimen –
despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the
need to “burn off ” calories
• Shows unusual swelling of the cheeks or
jaw area
• Has calluses on the back of the hands and
knuckles from self- induced vomiting
• Teeth are discolored, stained
• Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make
time for binge-and-purge sessions
• Withdraws from usual friends and activities
• Looks bloated from fluid retention
• Frequently diets
• Shows extreme concern with body weight
and shape
• Has secret recurring episodes of binge
eating (eating in a discrete period of time
an amount of food that is much larger than
most individuals would eat under similar
circumstances); feels lack of control over ability
to stop eating
• Purges after a binge (e.g. self-induced vomiting,
abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics,
excessive exercise, fasting)
• Body weight is typically within the normal
weight range; may be overweight
Signs of Binge Eating Disorder
• Evidence of binge eating, including disappear
ance of large amounts of food in short periods
of time or lots of empty wrappers and containers
indicating consumption of large amounts of food
• Develops food rituals (e.g., eats only a parti
cular food or food group [e.g., condiments],
excessive chewing, doesn’t allow foods to
touch) • Steals or hoards food in strange places
• Hides body with baggy clothes
• Creates lifestyle schedules or rituals to make
time for binge sessions
• Skips meals or takes small portions of food at
regular meals
• Has periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or
continuous eating beyond the point of feeling
comfortably full
• Does not purge
• Engages in sporadic fasting or repetitive dieting
• Body weight varies from normal to mild,
moderate, or severe obesity
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