If you’re looking for a clear, teacher-friendly resource on atypical anorexia, this free printable PDF helps school staff understand how a young person can experience a serious restrictive eating disorder without appearing underweight.
Atypical anorexia can be particularly difficult to recognise because assumptions about what an eating disorder “looks like” may mean that warning signs are overlooked. This resource supports early identification, pastoral conversations and appropriate referral when staff notice changes in a pupil’s eating, exercise, mood, behaviour or relationship with their body.
The PDF encourages staff to look beyond weight and appearance and recognise that eating disorders can affect young people across a range of body sizes.
DOWNLOAD THE ATYPICAL ANOREXIA GUIDEWhat is the Atypical Anorexia PDF?
The Atypical Anorexia PDF is a short educational resource written by Jenny Tomei to help teachers and school staff recognise a restrictive eating disorder that may not fit stereotypical expectations of anorexia.
A young person with atypical anorexia can experience significant food restriction, fear of weight gain and eating-disorder thoughts and behaviours, even though their weight is not considered low.
The resource helps staff understand why weight or appearance alone should never be used to determine whether someone is struggling with an eating disorder.
What’s included in this atypical anorexia resource?
1) What is atypical anorexia?
The resource provides a simple explanation of atypical anorexia and why someone can have significant eating-disorder symptoms without appearing underweight.
It challenges the misconception that a person has to “look ill” or be at a very low weight before their eating behaviours should cause concern.
2) Eating disorders can occur at different body sizes
A young person’s appearance does not tell us whether they are adequately nourished or whether they are struggling psychologically.
The PDF encourages staff to focus on changes in behaviour, eating patterns, exercise, physical wellbeing and emotional health, rather than making assumptions based on body size.
3) Signs of atypical anorexia
The resource helps teachers recognise possible warning signs, including:
- Restricting or skipping meals
- Increasing food rules or avoiding particular foods
- Fear or anxiety around eating
- Preoccupation with calories, weight or body shape
- Excessive or compulsive exercise
- Difficulty resting or missing training
- Body checking or frequent weighing
- Withdrawal from eating with others
- Changes in mood, concentration or energy
- Increasing concern about weight gain
No single behaviour confirms an eating disorder, but patterns of change should be taken seriously.
4) Why atypical anorexia can be missed
Young people with atypical anorexia may receive positive comments about weight loss, exercise or “healthy eating”, despite the behaviours behind those changes becoming increasingly restrictive.
The resource highlights why praising weight loss or commenting on a pupil’s changing body can be problematic, particularly when staff do not know what is happening behind the change.
5) The impact of restriction and under-fuelling
Restrictive eating can affect much more than weight.
Insufficient energy and nutrition can affect concentration, mood, energy, hormones, growth, bone health, recovery and physical wellbeing.
This is particularly important during childhood and adolescence, when young people are also fuelling growth and development.
6) Looking beyond weight
One of the central messages of the resource is:
You cannot tell how serious an eating disorder is simply by looking at someone.
Teachers should respond to concerning behaviours and changes rather than waiting for a pupil to reach a particular weight or appearance.
7) How teachers can respond
The PDF provides guidance for approaching concerns in a calm and non-judgemental way.
Rather than commenting on weight or appearance, staff can focus on what they have noticed:
“I’ve noticed you don’t seem quite yourself recently and you’ve been finding lunchtimes difficult. How have things been for you?”
Staff should listen, avoid trying to diagnose the young person themselves, and follow the school’s appropriate pastoral and safeguarding procedures.
Who is this atypical anorexia resource for?
This free resource is suitable for:
- Teachers and school staff wanting to understand atypical anorexia in young people
- PE teachers and sports coaches who may notice changes in eating, exercise or performance
- Pastoral and wellbeing teams supporting pupils with eating difficulties
- Designated safeguarding leads looking to improve early identification of eating disorders
- School nurses, counsellors and SEND staff
- PSHE and wellbeing settings discussing eating disorders and body image
When to get extra support
If a pupil is showing signs of restrictive eating, significant anxiety around food, compulsive exercise, rapid or concerning changes in eating behaviour, or deterioration in their physical or emotional wellbeing, concerns should be taken seriously regardless of their body size.
Speak with the young person privately and without judgement, follow your school’s safeguarding and pastoral procedures, and involve parents/carers and appropriate healthcare professionals where required.
For additional support, training or guidance around eating disorders in schools, please contact info@jenup.com.
FAQs
What is atypical anorexia?
Atypical anorexia is an eating-disorder presentation in which a person experiences the restrictive behaviours and psychological features associated with anorexia nervosa, but their weight is not considered significantly low.
Can you have anorexia without being underweight?
Yes. Serious restrictive eating-disorder symptoms can occur in people who are not clinically underweight. This is one reason why relying on appearance or weight alone can delay recognition and support.
What are the signs of atypical anorexia?
Signs may include restricting food, skipping meals, increasing food rules, fear of weight gain, body checking, compulsive exercise, anxiety around eating and increasing preoccupation with calories, food, weight or body shape.
Can teenagers have atypical anorexia?
Yes. Atypical anorexia can affect children and adolescents. Changes in eating, exercise, growth, physical health, mood and behaviour should be considered rather than judging risk solely from appearance.
Is atypical anorexia serious?
Atypical anorexia can be associated with significant psychological and physical consequences. The absence of a visibly low body weight should not be interpreted as meaning that an eating disorder is mild or that support is unnecessary.
How should teachers respond to suspected atypical anorexia?
Approach the pupil privately, describe the changes you have noticed rather than commenting on their weight, listen without judgement and follow the school’s pastoral and safeguarding procedures. Teachers do not need to diagnose an eating disorder before raising a concern.
Download the Atypical Anorexia PDF
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Schools are welcome to download, print and use this resource internally with pupils and staff for educational purposes.
This resource may not be sold, edited, rebranded, or redistributed (including uploading to public websites or sharing outside your school/trust) without written permission from Jenup Community CIC.
