Takeaway: If you’re concerned about your child’s behaviors around food and their body, take our “does my daughter have an eating disorder” quiz to get a sense of what they might be struggling with–and what to do about it.
Is my daughter anorexic? Have you asked yourself this question or perhaps googled it? Do you find yourself watching what your child eats with worry, wondering if she may be struggling with an eating disorder? Do you find yourself watching more closely to her behaviors around food and her body with concern? Often as a parent it is hard to decipher if your daughter is struggling with an eating disorder. The warning signs can be confusing to pick up on. You may question if certain behaviors are healthy or harmful. What may look like your daughter being intent on making healthy choices can possibly be the start of an eating disorder.
Understanding Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits and a preoccupation with food, weight, and body image. These disorders can have severe mental, emotional, physical, and social consequences and often require professional treatment. There are several common types of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, among others. Here’s a broad overview of eating disorders and some factors that may contribute to their development:
- Anorexia Nervosa: Individuals with anorexia nervosa typically have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. They often severely restrict their food intake, leading to extreme thinness, malnutrition, and other health complications.
- Bulimia Nervosa: People with bulimia nervosa engage in episodes of binge-eating, during which they consume large amounts of food, followed by purging behaviors such as forced vomiting, laxative use, or excessive exercise to compensate for the calories consumed.
- Binge-Eating Disorder: This disorder involves recurrent episodes of uncontrollable overeating, similar to binge-eating in bulimia, but without the compensatory purging behaviors. People with binge-eating disorder often feel guilt and shame about their eating patterns.
Does my child have an eating disorder quiz
Still not quite sure if your daughter is struggling with an eating disorder? Take our quiz below to help you assess whether or not the behaviors you are seeing in your daughter is a result of her struggling with an eating disorder. If you are still unsure after taking this quiz make sure you contact a professional such as ourselves at Jill Gulotta Nutrition to get your daughter the support she may need.
1. Has your daughter experienced a significant change in her eating habits? For example, has she started eating significantly less or more than usual?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
2. Does your daughter express dissatisfaction with her body shape or weight, even if there is no apparent reason to be concerned about her weight?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
3. Have you noticed her engaging in extreme dieting, fasting, or restricting certain foods?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
4. Does she exercise excessively, even when she is unwell or injured?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
5. Is she secretive about her eating habits or frequently eat alone?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
6. Does she often go to the bathroom immediately after meals or make excuses to leave the table?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
7. Have you observed her becoming more socially isolated or withdrawn?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
8. Does she frequently talk about feeling fat, even if she is underweight or within a healthy weight range?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
9. Have you noticed a significant change in her mood, such as increased irritability, depression, or anxiety?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
10. Have you noticed if her academic or work performance have been affected?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
11. Does she have physical symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, hair loss, or brittle nails that could be related to poor nutrition?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
12. Have you found evidence of excessive use of laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
13. Have you noticed a significant change in her weight or body?
A- Frequently
B- Sometimes
C-Rarely
Interpreting your Results
If you got mostly A’s or B’s on the above quiz it could be an indication that your daughter is struggling with an eating disorder or is at the beginning stages of one. Answering the above questions with mostly As and Bs suggests that your daughter is exhibiting some of the signs and symptoms related to the eating disorders mentioned earlier in this blog. Please remember that this quiz is meant to give insight and guidance and not to be used as a diagnostic tool. However this quiz can be a good indication that it is time to reach out for professional help for your daughter.
Our Registered Dietitians are Here to Help.
If this quiz has you more concerned about your daughter than before, don’t worry, we’ve got you! Navigating an eating disorder is not something you want to go at alone. At Jill Gulotta Nutrition, we specialize providing treatment for young women and their parents to heal from an eating disorder and re-establish a healthy relationship with food and body. We are passionate about helping young adults recover from eating disorders using a holistic, non-diet approach. We know that eating disorders are so much more than what they look like on the surface. They don’t just effect what you eat and how you feel about your body but also effects your mental health. Eating disorders are deeply rooted in what is happening in life that is causing mental and emotional distress. We work to address all issues surrounding the eating disorder so that you can truly recover, heal and never experience the challenges of an eating disorder again. If you feel like your daughter or even yourself can benefit from professional help, reach out to us at Jill Gulotta Nutrition and schedule a free consultation.
