Is it an eating disorder?
If you’re worried you or a loved one may be struggling with an eating disorder, this 5-minute screener is a good place to start.
- Starting a new diet, including an interest in “healthy,” “clean,” “low-carb,” or other rule-based eating approaches
- Avoiding certain food groups, either for health/diet reasons or due to taste/texture preference
- Absence during family meals, or avoiding situations that include eating in a group
- Inflexibility about what, when, or how much to eat
- Fixation on food’s calorie content
- Visiting the bathroom or showering immediately after meals
- A new interest in cooking without eating the food
- Rigidity around certain ingredients, brands, food preparations, or utensils
- A longer list of foods they will not eat than they will eat
- A long history of “picky” eating that has gotten worse over time
- Struggling to eat or eat enough food
- Frequent stomach pain or other gastrointestinal complaints
Do you have concerns about the signs above?
We recommend a professional assessment by your medical provider.
You can also contact our team for a consultation.
Eating disorders facts
29M Americans will be affected by an eating disorder in their lifetime¹5.5M
are affected by an eating disorder every year*¹
77%
do not receive treatment²
10,200
deaths each year due to eating disorders¹
Questions? We can help.
Lasting recovery starts with the first step.
Our team is here to take it with you.
If you’re not sure it’s an eating disorder, there are resources to help.
Sign up for Equip emails to learn more about how to spot an eating disorder, and what to do if you suspect one.
*Data based on 2018-2019 projections
- Deloitte Access Economics. (2020). The social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States of America: A report for the Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders and the Academy for Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/striped/report-economic-costs-of-eating-disorders
- Hart, L., Granillo, M., Jorm, A., & Paxton, S. (2011). Unmet need for treatment in the eating disorders. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(5).