How to recognise the early signs of an eating disorder

Prevention is the key to addressing the problem of disordered eating, and education is a necessary first step. Athletes, parents, coaches, athletic administrators, training staff, and doctors need to be educated about the risks and warning signals of disordered eating.

Warning signs

Johnson (1994)^[1] identifies the following checklist of warning signs:

A preoccupation with food, calories, and weight.
Repeatedly expressed concerns about being or feeling fat, even when the weight is average or below average.
Increasing criticism of one's body.
Secretly eating or stealing food.
Eating large meals, then disappearing, or making trips to the bathroom.
Consumption of large amounts of food when not consistent with the athlete's weight.
Bloodshot eyes, especially after trips to the bathroom.
Swollen parotid glands at the angle of the jaw, giving a chipmunk-like appearance.
Wide fluctuations in weight over short periods.
Periods of severe calorie restriction.
Excessive laxative use.
Compulsive, excessive exercise that is not part of the athlete's training regimen.
Unwillingness to eat in front of others (e.g., teammates on road trips).
Expression of self-deprecating thoughts following eating.
Wearing layered or baggy clothing.
Mood swings.
Appearing preoccupied with the eating behaviour of others.
Continuous drinking of diet soda or water.

If you are concerned that someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, you need to go softly in approaching them about it. People who are truly anorexic or bulimic will often deny the problem, insisting that there is nothing wrong. Share your concerns about physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, chronic fatigue, or lack of concentration.

These health changes are more likely to be stepping stones for accepting help. Do not discuss weight or eating habits directly. Avoid mentioning starving/bingeing as the issue and focus on life concerns. Offer a list of sources of professional help.

Although the athlete may deny the problem to your face, they may secretly be desperate for help.

Article Reference

This article first appeared in:

MACKENZIE, B. (2006). How to recognise the early signs of an eating disorder. Brian Mackenzie's Successful Coaching, (ISSN 1745-7513/ 29 / February), p. 11

References

JOHNSON, M. (1994) Disordered Eating in Active and Athletic Women. Clinics in Sportsmedicine, 13 (2), p. 357-369

Page Reference

If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:

MACKENZIE, B. (2006) How to recognise the early signs of eating disorder [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/scni29a7.htm [Accessed

About the Author

Brian Mackenzie was a highly respected British Athletics Level 4 performance coach, as well as an accredited Coach Tutor and Coach Assessor. With over 30 years of coaching experience, he specialised in the development of sprint, middle-distance, and combined events athletes. His expertise extended across all levels of competition, fostering performance and progression in both emerging and elite athletes. Complementing his coaching credentials, Brian was also a dedicated ultra-distance endurance athlete, competing for more than 45 years and bringing a deep personal understanding of athletic performance to his coaching practice.


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Athletes, parents, coaches, athletic administrators, training staff, and doctors need to be educated about the risks and warning signals of disordered eating. Warning signs Johnson (1994)^[1] identifies the following checklist of warning signs: A preoccupation with food, calories, and weight. Repeatedly expressed concerns about being or feeling fat, even when the weight is average or below average. Increasing criticism of one's body. Secretly eating or stealing food. Eating large meals, then disappearing, or making trips to the bathroom. Consumption of large amounts of food when not consistent with the athlete's weight. Bloodshot eyes, especially after trips to the bathroom. Swollen parotid glands at the angle of the jaw, giving a chipmunk-like appearance. Wide fluctuations in weight over short periods. Periods of severe calorie restriction. Excessive laxative use. Compulsive, excessive exercise that is not part of the athlete's training regimen. Unwillingness to eat in front of others (e.g., teammates on road trips). Expression of self-deprecating thoughts following eating. Wearing layered or baggy clothing. Mood swings. Appearing preoccupied with the eating behaviour of others. Continuous drinking of diet soda or water. If you are concerned that someone you know may be suffering from an eating disorder, you need to go softly in approaching them about it. People who are truly anorexic or bulimic will often deny the problem, insisting that there is nothing wrong. Share your concerns about physical symptoms such as lightheadedness, chronic fatigue, or lack of concentration. These health changes are more likely to be stepping stones for accepting help. Do not discuss weight or eating habits directly. Avoid mentioning starving/bingeing as the issue and focus on life concerns. Offer a list of sources of professional help. Although the athlete may deny the problem to your face, they may secretly be desperate for help. Article Reference This article first appeared in: MACKENZIE, B. (2006). How to recognise the early signs of an eating disorder. Brian Mackenzie's Successful Coaching, (ISSN 1745-7513/ 29 / February), p. 11 References JOHNSON, M. (1994) Disordered Eating in Active and Athletic Women. Clinics in Sportsmedicine, 13 (2), p. 357-369 Page Reference If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is: MACKENZIE, B. (2006) How to recognise the early signs of eating disorder [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/scni29a7.htm [Accessed About the Author Brian Mackenzie was a highly respected British Athletics Level 4 performance coach, as well as an accredited Coach Tutor and Coach Assessor. With over 30 years of coaching experience, he specialised in the development of sprint, middle-distance, and combined events athletes. His expertise extended across all levels of competition, fostering performance and progression in both emerging and elite athletes. Complementing his coaching credentials, Brian was also a dedicated ultra-distance endurance athlete, competing for more than 45 years and bringing a deep personal understanding of athletic performance to his coaching practice.