Signs that indicate an eating disorder include the following:
Refusal to eat much food
Obsession with being and looking thin
Obsession with counting calories
Not wanting to eat with others (e.g., refusing to go to a restaurant)
Continually criticizing one's looks and comparing oneself to others, especially slender people
Being convinced that one is fat
One of the most important topics Tom should discuss is proper nutrition. Using the concepts of adequacy, balance, and moderation, he can teach students about their diets. He could also present case studies of real people who have anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, so that his students can see firsthand the outcome of these diseases. Tom should also focus on increasing awareness of the challenges facing these young adults. The prepuberty and teenage years are a time of self-evaluation and criticism. It is important for Tom to help his students feel good from within by emphasizing the importance of self-worth, regardless of one's physical appearance. Finally, Tom can teach his students how to cope with difficult situations by showing them how to alleviate stress in positive and constructive ways.
