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Step 1
Note rapid decreases in weight, as well as frequent comments about weight loss from a potential anorexia patient. One of the tell-tale signs of simple anorexia is extreme weight fluctuations that end up with a total weight well below a healthy level.
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Step 2
Observe the fear of a friend that she will become fat or gain weight rapidly. This sign of simple anorexia offers significant evidence of the affliction, because these comments are often made by an individual well below a healthy weight.
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Step 3
Complete your observation of potential victims of simple anorexia by tracking comments about missed menstrual periods. The starvation and malnutrition involved in anorexia contribute to extreme changes in a woman's reproductive cycle.
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Step 4
Write down each instance where your friend comments about his body in a negative way. Poor body image is common among younger people, but simple anorexics obsessively look at mirrors and weigh themselves several times each day.
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Step 1
Track sudden increases in caloric intake and meals for a friend you suspect of binging and purging. This type of anorexia is marked by a rapid escalation in consumption, as well as an increase in the number of meals, to maximize purging.
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Step 2
Develop concern for a colleague you think has binge-and-purge anorexia if she begins to use laxatives and other medications. Over-the-counter laxatives are readily available and allow anorexics to purge their meals immediately after completion. You can observe frequent trips to drug stores and keep an eye out for laxatives dropped from a wallet or purse.
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Step 3
Help identify binge-and-purge anorexia as distinct from other types by taking note of repeated trips to the bathroom. Anorexics who purge need to use the bathroom on a regular basis to help meet their need for decreased body weight. You can head to the bathroom to wash your hands and note any strange behavior.
