Have you experienced any of these?

• Extreme concern with body weight and shape
• Intense fear of weight gain or being fat
• Frequent dieting
• Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
• Refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity
• Loss of menstrual periods
• Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
• Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
• Purging after a binge (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)

What do you do if you suspect someone you know has an eating disorder?

• Do not confront the person harshly. Instead, indicate your caring and concern. Tell the person that effective treatment is available and encourage him or her to get professional assistance.
• Do not treat the person as if there is nothing else besides the eating disorder that is important. At this time, it is especially important to talk about regular life events. It helps to take the focus off of food and weight.
• If an individual admits having a problem but refuses professional help, discuss his or her concerns regarding treatment. You may be able to provide some reassurance that these concerns can be addressed.
• If the person’s condition is severe (i.e. emaciation, fainting, inability to stop vomiting, blood in stool or vomit), emphasize that immediate evaluation by a professional is crucial.
• Do not watch what the person is eating or demand that the person eat or not eat. Let the person’s treatment providers be the ones to focus on food.

Looking for a Support Group Near You? Click here to find a local group.

Want to Learn More about Eating Disorders? Print this brochure and find out: What to look for in a good treatment program, What do you do if you suspect someone you know has an eating disorder, The three types of eating disorders, and What to do if you experienced any of these.

Would you like to become a member of the Eating Disorders Task Force of Indiana? Please complete this application and make your check payable to Eating Disorder Task Force of Indiana and mail to:

Lee Van Donselaar, 320 Lucina Hall, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306-0895

Other Eating Disorder website links:

www.renfrew.org
www.edreferral.com
www.bulimia.com
www.something-fishy.org
www.aedweb.org
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
www.anad.org
www.eatright.org
www.ellynsatter.com
http://www.iupui.edu/~philosop/iedc.htm