Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia

Anorexia (full name- anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder characterized by a significant weight loss caused by excessive dieting. The cause of this illness in women, and now, an increasing number of men, is motivated by the strong desire to be thin and/or the fear of becoming obese.Anorexia is a medical condition that requires medical support. If you or your child are experiencing the symptoms listed below, contact your medical doctor today.

• Noticeable weight loss
• Becoming withdrawn
• Excessive exercise
• Fatigue
• Always being cold
• Muscle weakness
• Obsession with food, calories, recipes
• Excuses for not eating meals (ie. ate earlier, not feeling well)
• Unusual eating habits (ie. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)
• Noticeable discomfort around food
• Complaining of being “too fat”, even when thin
• Cooking for others, but not eating themselves
• Restricting food choices to only diet foods
• Guilt or shame about eating
• Depression, irritability, mood swings
• Evidence of vomiting, laxative abuse, diet pills or diuretics to control weight
• Irregular menstruation
• Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation)
• Wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss
• Frequently checking weight on scale
• Fainting spells and dizziness
• Difficulty eating in public
• Very secretive about eating patterns
• Pale complexion (almost a pasty look)
• Headaches
• Perfectionist
• Feelings of self worth determined by what is or is not eaten
• No known physical illness that would explain weight loss

Physical/Medical Complications of Anorexia

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation)
• Skin problems
• Dizziness and headaches
• Dehydration
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeats
• Cold hands and feet
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Hair loss
• Stomach pains
• Decreased metabolic rate
• Edema (water retention)
• Lanugo(fine downy hair)
• Loss of bone mass
• Kidney and liver damage
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Osteoporosis
• Insomnia
• Anemias
• Infertility
• Depression
• Cathartic colon(caused from laxative abuse)
• Low potassium (most common cause of nocturnal cardiac arrest)
• Cardiac arrest and death