• Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, and dieting, to the extent that it consistently intrudes on conversations and interferes with other activities.
• Excessive, rigid exercise regimen despite weather, fatigue, illness, and injury, the need to "burn off" calories taken in.
• Withdrawal from, or avoidance of, numerous activities because of weight and shape concerns.
• Expressions of anxiety about being fat which do not diminish as weight is lost.
• Evidence of self-induced (often secretive) vomiting such as:
  • bathroom smells or messes
  • rushing to the bathroom immediately after a meal and returning with bloodshot eyes
  • swelling of the submandibular glands to yield a "chipmunk" facial appearance
• Evidence (e.g. wrappers, advertisements, coupons) of use of laxatives, diuretics, purgatives, enemas, or emetics.
• Evidence of binge eating, including hoarding and/or stealing food, or consumption of huge amounts of food inconsistent with the person's weight.
• Alternating periods of severely restrictive dieting and overeating; these phasic fluctuations may be accompanied by dramatic weight fluctuations of 10 pounds or more.
• Inexplicable problems with menstruation and/or fertility.
• Extreme concern about appearance as a defining feature of self esteem, often accompanied by dichotomous, perfectionist thinking (e.g. either I am "thin and good" or "gross and bad").
• Paleness and complaints (evidence) of lightheadedness or disequilibrium not accounted for by other medical problems.

COULD I HAVE AN EATING DISORDER?

Eating disorders (bulimia and anorexia nervosa) affect the individual in various ways. Typically they follow a progressive course from mild to serious symptoms.

These questions were designed to help you identify a problem with eating. This problem may be in the beginning stages; it may have settled already in a set pattern, or it may be quite advanced.

If you recognize through the questionnaire that your eating is becoming a problem, please contact one of our counselors at the Counseling and Wellness Center by calling our phone number 832-1945 or by clicking on one of the counselors photos in the "Meet the Staff" page.

If you recognize through the questionnaire that your eating is becoming a problem, please contact one of our counselors at the Counseling and Wellness Center by calling our phone number 832-1945 or by clicking on one of the counselors photos in the "Meet the Staff" page.

• Do you sometimes feel that if you could only lose weight, you would then be able to achieve all of your other goals?
• Do you diet or fast as often as weekly or monthly?
• Are you frequently depressed because you feel fat or overweight?
• Do you frequently overeat (or frequently control the amount you eat) when you are under pressure or when you feel unhappy?
• Would you eat more than others if you didn't control yourself?
• Do you feel "good" or "bad" according to how much you eat, how much you weigh, or how much exercise you get?
• Did you at one time purge occasionally when you wanted to, but now purge regularly? Does purging let you feel in control?

  Private, confidential screenings for eating disorders are available at any time by calling the number below for an appointment with a counselor.

  Helpful handouts are available through the Counseling and Wellness Center, 100 Willard Hall, 832-1945.