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It's almost dinner time. A young woman sits in her bedroom, desperately trying to ignore her aching stomach. Her mother calls her for dinner. She opens her door and calls out that she already ate with friends. The lie comes easily. Closing her door, she decides to treat herself with a handful of fresh grapes. After swallowing, she lowers her head, unhappy with herself for giving in to hunger again. A run should make up for her inexcusable lack of willpower. After four miles, her guilt finally begins to subside.

Many people suffering from eating disorders start out wanting to lose a few pounds, but soon the pseudo feelings of control make them slaves to their own bodies. So when does dieting go too far?

According to psychologist Dr. Roberta Seldman, coordinator of the eating disorders program at the University of Florida, the American media bombards us with a fat-free image that few can uphold.

"The effect is huge. I think if we didn't have the media, we wouldn't have the problem," Seldman says.

Many feel forced to take drastic measures to maintain this perfect body image. The consequences can be deadly.

"Many young girls have been so influenced by the unrealistic bodies of models and actresses that they have resorted to starving themselves or purging the food they eat," Seldman says.

If you think someone you love may be suffering from an eating disorder, take a look at these telltale signs.

•Isolation. People suffering from eating disorders may cut themselves off from friends and family and become irritable and depressed. They often eat alone, and typically refuse to eat in front of others.

•Restriction. By placing limits on the amount and type of foods eaten or refusing to eat what everyone else is eating, a person with an eating disorder heightens their feelings of control. Rebecca, whose last name has been withheld to protect her identity, weighed 85 pounds and stood at 5 feet 4 inches tall at the peak of her disorder. She says her diet consisted of "Cheerios, cottage cheese, vegetables, and honeydew melon."

•Food Quirks. In an effort to make others think they're eating, people with these types of disorders will use tricks like cutting food into small pieces and pushing them around on the plate, chewing food and spitting it into a napkin, complaining of stomach aches before meals, or drinking a lot of water before eating.

•Obsession. If you find the person to be constantly fixated on physical appearance, you may want to raise a red flag. Look for countless outfit changes, hours spent in front of a mirror, constant exercise, or repeated weigh-ins on the bathroom scale. Rebecca's obsessive behavior became a hindrance in her daily life. "At the peak of my disorder, I would run six miles outside and do one and a half hours of cardio at the gym. I would have missed my sister's wedding if it interfered with my exercising," she admits.

•Disappearing Act. Some with eating disorders try to control their weight by using diuretics, laxatives, or vomiting after meals. If you suspect someone you love is suffering from an eating disorder, pay attention to their whereabouts after meals. They'll likely disappear into the bathroom or bedroom to rid their body of any food.

•Regain Control. Rebecca has since sought treatment and battles each day for recovery. "I have good days and bad days," she says. "Hopefully, eventually the bad days won't be there at all."

Rebecca suggests that people suffering from an eating disorder should consider joining a treatment program. "Catch it early and you won't have to regret not living your life," she says.

Written by Jordan Meffert

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