Preferred Nutrition Services

What is an Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders involve serious disturbances in eating behavior, such as extreme and unhealthy reduction of food intake or severe overeating, as well as feelings of distress or extreme concern about body shape or weight. (National Institute of Health).

Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders:

• Weight Loss: extreme thinness or loss of 15 or more pounds in 2-3 months, is exhilarated by weight loss

• Eating little: skips meals, eats very little, is finicky about food, appears to eat when not (pushing food around his/her plate)

• Preoccupation with dieting & food: uses diet products, talks constantly about food, calories, fat grams, reads a lot about nutrition labels, dieting and exercise

• Intense fear of being overweight: preoccupied with thinness, wants to be thinner than peers, complains of being overweight when not, obsessed with clothing size, scales and mirrors

• Unusual eating habits: eats one thing at a time, eats the same thing every day, cuts food into tiny pieces, fears touching certain foods, sudden vegetarianism, refuses to eat with others

• Bathroom breaks: disappears into the bathroom during or after meals

• Evidence of Binge-Eating: A lot of empty food packages may suggest binging

• Empty laxative packages: herbal or otherwise

• Caffeine use: excessive drinking of diet caffeinated beverages or regular coffee without sugar

• Taking up smoking: especially for someone who would not be expected to smoke

• Onset hyperactivity: constantly fidgets, lots of exercise

• Loss of menstrual period: irregular, minimal or absent menses

• Intolerance of cold: shivering, blue skin or fingers

• Baggy for full-covering clothes: wears baggy clothes or long sleeves, pants and coats during summer months

• Skin & hair problems: pasty looking skin, very thin and dry hair, hair loss, and fine hair growth on the face and arms like a baby (malnutrition)

• Swollen salivary glands: distended (purging)

• Broken blood vessels in the eyes

• Change in mood: anxiety, depression, irritability, increased obsessions and compulsions

• Social withdrawal: isolates from peers and family, unwilling to eat with other people

• Perfectionism & low self-esteem: expects too much of self and sees self as not good enough

How we can help……

With extensive experience working in acute & residential eating disorder programs as well as private practice, Marilyn and Jill specialize in the treatment of adult, adolescent and pediatric eating disorders. Both Marilyn and Jill work hand in hand with therapists and a medical team to provide the best care and guidance through this difficult disease. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.

Eating Disorder Recovery...

Groups Mondays, 7-8pm ED Support Group 1003 3^rd Street N, Jax Beach, FL Corner of 3^rd Street (A1A) & 9^th Avenue North in Jacksonville Beach
For more information and to register please call 270-1234

Tuesdays, 6:30-8 pm
St. Lukes Hospital - Roger Main Building - Room 370; check this website for more information http://edrecoveryjax.com or email [email protected]

Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 pm Friends & Family of People with Eating Disorders Christ Episcopal Church(Ponte Vedra) in CFC 202. For further information [email protected]

Thursday, 6:30-7:30 pm RRED - Roads to Recovery from Eating Disorders. Christ Episcopal Church (Ponte Vedra) in CFC 202. For further information contact Debra 861-7159 or email

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Information
REAL Magazine - Ezine on body image http://www.csun.edu/counseling/real/