© copyright In Our Hands qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqwww.inourhands.com

WARNING SIGNS – ANOREXIA

Restricted Eating

In order to reduce their calorie intake, anorexics will typically restrict their food intake. Restricted eating can

refer to limiting the quantities consumed of all types of food and / or avoiding entire food groups – for

example by becoming vegetarian or vegan.

Busy at Lunchtime

Many anorexics will manage to skip lunch without causing too much of a fuss by ensuring that they are far too

busy to fit lunch in. They might schedule study, sports music etc. for every lunch break and never make it to

the school canteen.

Strange Behaviour Around Food

Anorexia is an illness that is typified by strange behaviours around food. Many sufferers develop complex

rules about what they can and can’t eat and how they can eat it - perhaps carefully cutting all food in half and

eating only one half for instance. Anorexics can also get very distressed around food so if you see a young

person exhibiting signs of panic whilst eating or near to people eating, this is a cause for concern.

Wearing Baggy Clothes

Anorexics will often hide their wasting frame underneath oversized clothes. This can be either because they

feel ugly and fat and want to hide their true shape, or because they want to cover up their weight loss so it

doesn’t get questioned.

Wrapping Up Warm

As their weight loss increases, anorexics will feel increasingly cold all the time as they don’t have the layer of

fat to insulate them that most of us have. In order to compensate for this they’ll often wear several layers of

clothing and will often be seen to wrap up warm even on relatively mild days.

Loss of Friends

As the disease takes grip it is hard for the sufferer to focus on anything other than their internal battle with

food. As such they tend to neglect their friendships and become quite isolated. Cutting themselves off in this

way also decreases the potential for them having to eat in a social situation which can often be one of the

biggest fears an anorexic can face.

Believes They’re Fat When They’re Not

A distorted body image is a key indicator of anorexia. Even as they waste away anorexics will cry themselves

to sleep over their bodies which they perceive as obese. If a young person you know has wildly inaccurate

views about their own body weight then you are right to be concerned.

© copyright In Our Hands qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqwww.inourhands.com

Avoiding PE or Swimming

Anorexics will often avoid situations which involve them undressing in front of other people. Partly because

they are ashamed of their bodies which they believe to be grotesque and overweight and partly because they

may be trying to hide the extent of their weight loss. Conversely, some young people will over exercise, taking

every opportunity to burn extra calories both in and beyond scheduled lessons.