What Educators Should Know

Anorexia (also called anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder that makes people extremely afraid of gaining weight and gives them a distorted view of their body shape and size. They restrict how much food they eat through dieting and fasting and may also exercise excessively. Some students with anorexia may eat a lot of food in a short amount of time (called binge eating) and then try to get rid of it through vomiting, laxative use, exercise, or other means to prevent gaining weight.

By understanding their challenges and supporting their needs, educators can help students with anorexia do their best in school.

Challenges for Students With Anorexia

Students with anorexia might:

• lose a lot of weight and look thin
• act withdrawn, irritable, moody, depressed, or anxious 
• feel cold, dizzy, or tired
• have nausea and headaches
• feel self-conscious about their appearance and wear baggy clothes to hide weight loss
• be overly focused on food, body image, weight, calories, or exercise 
• spend more time alone, skip meals, or avoid meals with peers
• exercise as a way to lose or control weight
• have trouble with concentration, focus, and memory

What Educators Can Do

Talk to your student and their parents about special instructions, such as whether the student:

• needs to take a break from physical education classes
• needs supervised lunches, or monitoring during snacks or meals
• will miss class time and assignments due to medical visits
• needs any support from the school counselor or school nurse

Other reminders:

• Review posters/books/materials in your classroom. Try to create a body positive environment that supports all different body types. 
• Encourage a healthy attitude about exercise and nutrition.
• Focus on the student’s strengths in the classroom. 
• Help build your student’s confidence by recognizing and appreciating their strengths — in math, sports, drama, art, or whatever else they enjoy. 
• Provide support. If you think your student is feeling upset, talk to them and their family about counseling options in school or in the community. Some school districts don’t require parents’ permission for a student to see a counselor at school while others do. Check your local school district’s policies.