Early detection and intervention are key factors in recovery from eating disorders. School professionals can help implement early intervention by being aware of these common eating disorder behaviors and characteristics:

• Noticeable weight loss or extreme thinness
• Finding excuses to skip lunch
• Unusual eating behaviors; ritualistic eating
• Unusual concern about school performance; earned grades are never "good enough"
• Oversensitivity to criticism
• Unusual concern over change in routine; not flexible or adaptable
• Tendency to be a perfectionist
• Closed communication; usually very proper, polite; may appear tense or too animated
• Unusual concern about appearance; very neat, "not a hair out of place"
• Withdrawal from friends and activities; an unusual immersion in an activity to the exclusion of other activities
• Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle)
• Unusual, compulsive behaviors, particularly having to do with food
• Mood swings
• Very controlled behavior; able to hide feelings
• Conversation largely about food and weight
• Intolerance of others
• Low self-esteem (may not be initially apparent)

Related Story:  Things Coaches Can Do