Eating
These questions relate to a young person's food choices, eating patterns and attitudes towards nutrition. | |||
Have you noticed any of the following? | |||
A change in eating pattern, such as skipping meals |
|
||
Eating alone, eating secretly, or having 'rituals' around food or meal times |
|
||
Avoiding family meals or eating with others |
|
||
Hiding, or secretly throwing away uneaten food |
|
||
Leaving the table during a meal and avoiding finishing their food |
|
||
Frequently reporting to have eaten elsewhere, or being dishonest about their eating |
|
||
Limiting the variety of foods eaten |
|
||
Eating according to strict food rules, such as no carbohydrates, or no sugar |
|
||
Suddenly becoming vegetarian or vegan |
|
||
Development of food 'intolerances' |
|
||
A strong preference for 'diet' or 'low fat' products |
|
||
Frequently talking about losing weight, or making comments about being 'fat' |
|
||
Displaying a high level of concern about the calorie content of food |
|
||
A strong focus on what others are eating, interest in cooking or interest in cookbooks without actually eating |
|
||
Evidence of over eating (large amounts of food disappearing from household, hidden wrappers and packaging) |
|
||
Finding it hard to stop eating once they have started |
|
||
A history of 'picky' eating |
|
||
Rigidity around food preparation and eating such as cutting food into tiny pieces, or 'hovering' in the kitchen whilst others are cooking |
|
||
Anxiety, irritability, anger and hostility at mealtimes |
|
Wellbeing
These questions relate to a young person's physical health and any unhelpful behaviors they may be participating in. | |||
Have you noticed any of the following? | |||
A fluctuation in weight over a few weeks (weight gain or loss) |
|
||
Significant weight change as a result of illness, travel or increased participation in sport and exercise |
|
||
A growth spurt without any weight gain |
|
||
Any evidence of vomiting after meals |
|
||
Excessive, obsessive or ritualistic exercise |
|
||
Having problems sitting still, and standing, twitching or pacing whenever possible |
|
||
Evidence of exercising in secret (e.g. in the middle of the night or in their bedroom) |
|
||
Engaging in intense exercise with no pleasure |
|
||
Exercising to compensate for eating |
|
||
Packets of diet pills or laxatives |
|
||
Constipation, or unexplained stomach pains |
|
||
Cold hands, or feet, or regular complaints of feeling cold |
|
||
Fainting or complaining of dizziness |
|
||
A delayed onset of periods (if female), or a loss of menstrual cycle |
|
Thinking
These questions relate to thinking patterns and personality traits of a young person. | |||
Have you noticed any of the following? | |||
Very low self-esteem |
|
||
Rigid, black and white thinking (e.g. good/bad or right/wrong) |
|
||
Increased perfectionism |
|
||
Body dissatisfaction e.g. a strong conviction they need to be thinner |
|
||
A strong focus on perceived flaws of their body or a particular part of their body |
|
||
Constantly seeking reassurance about body size |
|
||
Obsessive body checking e.g. weighing, pinching, excessive time in front of the mirror |
|
||
An interest in weight loss blogs, websites, magazines, books or images of thin people |
|
Feeling
These questions relate to changes in the way a young person is interacting with others. | |||
Have you noticed any of the following? | |||
Increased social isolation or withdrawal |
|
||
Perceiving others to be judgemental |
|
||
Experiencing difficulty talking about emotions |
|