Eating Disorders

WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS OF OSFED?

Having awareness about eating disorders and the warning signs and symptoms can make a marked difference to the severity and duration of the illness. Seeking help at the first warning sign is much more effective than waiting until the illness is in full swing. Many of the signs that indicate a person may have OSFED are very similar to those of the other eating disorders.

If you or someone you know is exhibiting some or a combination of these signs it is vital to seek help and support as soon as possible.

The warning signs of OSFED can be physical, psychological and behavioural. It is possible for someone with OSFED to display a combination of these symptoms

Physical Signs:

Weight loss, weight gain or weight fluctuationsLoss of or disturbance of menstrual periods in girls and women and decreased libido in menCompromised immune system (e.g. getting sick more often)Signs of damage due to vomiting including swelling around the cheeks or jaw, calluses on knuckles, damage to teeth and bad breathFainting and dizziness as a result of dehydration

Psychological:

Preoccupation with food and eatingPreoccupation with body shape and weight (in men this can be a preoccupation with increasing muscle bulk)Extreme body dissatisfactionHaving a distorted body image (e.g. seeing themselves as overweight even if they are in a healthy weight range for their age and height)Sensitivity to comments relating to food, weight, body shape or exerciseHeightened anxiety and/or irritability around meal timesDepression, anxiety or irritabilityLow self esteem and feelings of shame, self loathing or guilt'Black and white' thinking - rigid thoughts about food being 'good' or 'bad'

Behavioural signs:

Dieting behaviour (e.g. fasting, counting calories/kilojoules, avoiding food groups such as fats and carbohydrates)Evidence of binge eating (e.g. disappearance or hoarding of food)Frequent trips to the bathroom during or shortly after meals which could be evidence of vomiting or laxative useCompulsive or excessive exercising (e.g. exercising in bad weather, continuing to exercise when sick or injured, and experiencing distress if exercise is not possible)Eating at unusual times and/or after going to sleep at nightChanges in food preferences (e.g. claiming to dislike foods previously enjoyed, sudden preoccupation with 'healthy eating', or replacing meals with fluids)Obsessive rituals around food preparation and eating (e.g. eating very slowly, cutting food into very small pieces, insisting that meals are served at exactly the same time everyday)Anti-social behaviour, particularly around meal times, and withdrawal from social situations involving foodSecretive behaviour around food (e.g. saying they have eaten when they haven't, hiding uneaten food in their rooms)Increased interest in food preparation (e.g. planning, buying, preparing and cooking meals for others but not actually consuming; interest in cookbooks, recipes and nutrition)Increased interest and focus on body shape and weight (e.g. interest in weight loss websites, books, magazines or images of thin people)Repetitive or obsessive behaviours relating to body shape and weight (e.g. weighing themselves repeatedly, looking in the mirror obsessively and pinching waist or wrists)Increased isolation, spending more and more time alone and avoiding previously enjoyed activities