Body Image
Do I have an Eating Disorder?
You may have an eating disorder if you find yourself described here. You might find that you're struggling with disordered eating instead.
Eating Disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. You may have anorexia if you have missed your period, you obsess about being thin, or you skip meals and avoid food-related social situations.
Bulimia Nervosa is also a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binge eating and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, or exercise in an ineffective attempt to compensate for binge eating.
Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is a type of eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating without the regular use of behaviors to try to “make-up” for the binge eating.
Do I have Disordered Eating?
You may not have an eating disorder but disordered eating can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and mental well-being. Disordered eating can be a real problem and can lead to eating disorders if it continues.
Do you…
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constantly calculate fat grams and calories?
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weigh yourself often and find yourself obsessed with the number on the scale?
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exercise to burn off calories and not for health and enjoyment?
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ever feel out of control when you are eating?
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feel ashamed, disgusted or guilty after eating?
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constantly worry about the weight, shape or size of your body?
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feel like your identity and value is based on how you look or how much you weigh?
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feel like weight loss, dieting, and/or control of food has become one of your major concerns?
Normal Eating includes:
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Eating when hungry and stopping when full
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Eating is flexible and not based on emotions
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Trusting your body
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Being able to use constraint
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Choosing food you truly like
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Choosing to have 3 meals a day or light snacks in between
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Leaving food (such as sweets) on the plate because you can eat it later
Based on original content from National Eating Disorders Association.
More information: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/