Anorexia Symptoms

If you believe that you, a friend, or a relative may be suffering from anorexia symptoms, this simple test can help you determine the severity of the disorder and what should be done to explore further and to get additional help to towards recovering from anorexia symptoms and become healthy.

Answer “yes” or “no” to the following questions regarding anorexia symptoms:

1.  Divide your weight (in pounds) by your height (in inches).  If the result is over 2.4 pounds per inch or if you do not think of yourself as fat or overweight, you can discontinue this test because you do not have anorexia symptoms.  Do you think of yourself as overweight or fat although the result is less than 2.4 pounds per inch? 

2.  Do friends and family regularly express concern about your weight loss or about how little you eat?

3.  When you look at yourself in the mirror, can you see your individual ribs or hip bones?

4.  Has a doctor said that you need to gain weight?

5.  Do your arms have light, peach-fuzz-like hair?

6.  Do you regularly suffer from exhaustion or inability to concentrate?

7.  Do you regularly find it difficult to consume a normal serving, which is about 6-8 ounces, of meat, grain and vegetables at one meal? 

8.  Do you regularly find it difficult to consume 3 normal meals a day?

9.  Do you feel anxiety about eating?

10. Do you feel it is necessary to exercise more than 1 hour a day, 3-4 days a week in order to control your weight?

Anorexia Symptoms Test Scoring:

A. If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, monitor yourself for the next 3 months for anorexia symptoms.

 

B. If you answered “yes” to 3 or more of the questions, do what it says in “A” above and find a trusted friend or family member (one without an eating disorder) to help you monitor yourself for anorexia symptoms.

 

C. If you answered “yes” to 5 or more of the questions, do what it says in “A” & “B” above and have your friend take you to the doctor for a complete examination to rule out anorexia symptoms.  Your friend is necessary because many who suffer from this disease also suffer from denial.

 

D. If you are taking this test to see if a friend or relative may have anorexia symptoms, know that you may have fewer “yes” answers for them by observation and they still may have the disorder. If you are still concerned after the test, confront them on the issue and get them to take the test themselves.  Then help them follow the instructions in the test scoring section.