Warnings

Warning signs do exist. The first step to stopping eating disorders from "spreading" in your group is knowing what to look for:

Freaky eating. Your friend(s) start avoiding lots of foods, skipping meals, playing with and destroying food, purging food, or restricting calories.

Body obsession. Your friends frequently comment on how "fat" they look -- or talk about fat, calories, food content, weight, diets, or size.

Constant comparing. They compare how much they've worked out or talk about measurements or body parts to see who's skinnier.

Body snarking. They're always commenting on other girls' bodies because, deep down, they're so laser-focused on their own.

Red-flag phrases. Saying things like "I hate myself, I'm so fat!" or "I can't believe you're going to eat that" are signs that something is off.

If you or someone you know is anorexic, it's important to get help. For more info on eating disorders and how to get help, go to nationaleatingdisorders.org or call NEDA's National Helpline at 800-931-2237.