An obsession with losing weight and a fear of becoming fat.

Considering themselves fat even when they’ve lost considerable weight.

Refusing to eat healthily and ‘normally’ ? an obsession with diets and restricted food intake.

A fixation on their body shape and appearance.

Dramatic loss of weight. Constantly saying they are not hungry, or development of unusual food rituals.

Excuses for being absent at mealtimes.

Sudden and excessive interest in rigid exercise.

Any change in behavior or attitude that is accompanied with an obsession with losing weight and dieting and being thin.

Many who suffer from this disorder have a history of depression, and often express feelings of shame and guilt over their binge habit. Binge eating affects those who can be of normal weight, or are overweight.

Watch out for when your child consumes large volumes of food in a short period of time on a regular basis even when they are not hungry.

Eating large quantities of food very quickly without really tasting it or taking much notice in what it is they are eating.

Appearing to be out of control during these eating frenzies.

Eating alone or eating secretly. You may find evidence of this by large amounts of food disappearing, finding wrappers hidden away.

Characterized by eating large volumes of food in a short space of time, quite often secretly, and again, this has nothing to do with feeling hungry, and a sense of being out of control during these eating episodes.

These eating episodes are followed by forcing oneself to vomit up the food or use laxatives. The other extreme is fasting, or a sudden exercise frenzy — anything to counteract the effect of calories consumed.

Again, sufferers have an obsession with body weight and shape.

Watch out for evidence that your child may be trying to rid themselves of the food they’ve just eaten. Do they frequent the bathroom after eating meals or snacks and is there any sign, smell etc. that they may have vomited? Have you found any laxatives hidden in their room?

After meals do they participate in extreme exercise regardless of the weather or their condition (if they’re tired, ill or injured, this is not a deterrent for them.) Look out for swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.

As with binge eaters, Bulimia suffers tend to withdraw from their usual social circles and friends, and design their life around their eating and purging episodes.

They also have an unhealthy obsession with losing weight and may have a distorted self-image.

If you do have an obese child and are trying to get them onto a healthier eating plan, don’t make a big deal of it and don’t use the word diet. Just change their usual fattening food choices to healthier food choices.

Finally, seek professional advice and help if you suspect your children are suffering an eating disorder.

Terri a speaker, and Author of Create Your Ideal Body, Work Yourself Happy & Coaching for an Extraordinary Life. Her website http//www.createyouridealbody.com or 215-699-4949.Direct Contact 1-877-401-6165