Do You Have An Eating Disorder?

Are your eating habits normal or disordered?
Some people are not aware that they have an eating disorder. Here's a great test that I came across at Teengrowth.com. It will help you determine if your eating is disordered.
"If you feel you have an eating disorder, it’s important that you recognize it and get help early. This may prevent you from developing a serious and perhaps fatal problem. The following “self test” was developed to help you learn if you have an eating disorder. Take the time to answer each question honestly and critically.

Once you finish our test, it’s a good idea to share your answers with a trusted adult, like your parents. However, if you feel uncomfortable with talking to your parents or another adult, it’s very important that you share these answers with your doctor. This is also a good test to take and discuss with your doctor if you have been diagnosed with an eating disorder and want to learn more about how it has affected you.

What are some of the warning signs of an eating disorder?

1. Do you think about food/eating a lot? Do you worry about what you eat (or don’t eat) and talk about how fat you think you are?

2. Have you started to avoid eating socially with others? Have you started to avoid eating in your home? For example, do you refuse to eat anything your parent(s) cook or just get a diet cola at the mall at lunch while your friends share a pizza?

3. In your worry about your body image, have you started avoiding going to the pool or wearing a bathing suit, wearing baggy clothes or developing excuses not to participate in gym class.

See the test in full here.

See Also: Eating Disorder Self Assessment Tests and Quizzes
Eating Disorder Help: Hotlines, Organizations, and Websites
Reference:
J.K. Hillman, MD, “Just Dieting or an Eating Disorder? A Practical Guide for the Clinician” Adolescent Health Update. AAP. Vol. 13 (2). Feb. 2001.test picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/albertogp123/5843577306/
http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_article&ID_article=1366