What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an irrational dread of becoming fat coupled with a relentless pursuit of thinness. But no matter how much weight is lost, no matter how emaciated they become, it’s never enough.
The key features of anorexia nervosa are:
- Refusal to sustain a minimally normal body weight
- Intense fear of gaining weight, despite being underweight
- Distorted view of one’s body or weight, or denial of the dangers of one’s low weight
Signs and symptoms of anorexia
People with anorexia often hide their condition, so the warning signs are not always easy to spot. Furthermore, anorexics will typically try to explain away their disordered eating behaviors when confronted. But as anorexia progresses, the signs and symptoms become increasingly obvious and difficult to deny.
Physical Signs
- Excessive weight loss
- Hair –Thinning, downy hair covering the body; a protective mechanism built-in to the body to help keep a person warm during periods of starvation and malnutrition, and the hormonal imbalances that result
- Face- Dark area on cheeks and under eyes
- Eyes- Dull appearance; dry/pale red membranes
- Lips- Red and swollen, esp. at corners
- Tongue- Swollen, purple and raw-looking
- Neck- Swollen thyroid glands
- Skin- Dry, flaky- caused by Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies, malnutrition and dehydration
- Cold or swollen hands and feet
- Bloated or upset stomach
- Scanty or absent menstrual periods- nutritional and hormonal problems that negatively impact bone density. Low body weight in females causes the body to stop producing estrogen, resulting in a condition known as amenorrhea, or absent menstrual periods.
- Osteoporosis- Affected individuals have low estrogen levels and also produce excessive amounts of the adrenal hormone cortisol; bone loss triggered
- Low blood pressure- caused by lowered body temperature, malnutrition and dehydration. Can cause heart arrythmias, shock or myocardial infarction
- Fatigue- caused generalized poor eating habits, electrolyte imbalances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, depression, malnutrition, heart problems.
Purging
- Using diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics – Abuses water pills, herbal appetite suppressants, prescription stimulants, ipecac syrup, and other drugs for weight loss.
- Throwing up after eating – Frequently disappears after meals or goes to the bathroom. May run the water to disguise sounds of vomiting or reappear smelling like mouthwash or mints.
- Compulsive exercising – Follows a punishing exercise regimen aimed at burning calories. Will exercise through injuries, illness, and bad weather. Works out extra hard after bingeing or eating something “bad.”
http://www.edreferral.com/consequences_of_ed.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/anorexia_nervosa/page3.htm#tocf
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/anorexia_nervosa.asp
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/a/anorexia_nervosa/book-diseases-5a.htm
Psychological & behavioral symptoms of anorexia nervosa
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common psychological anorexia nervosa signs and symptoms. Anxiety depression and anorexia symptoms are the most common, however. Anxiety and depression can contribute to a person developing anorexia, but the condition can also cause anxiety and depression. It can become a sort of cycle. Other psychological symptoms include:
- Feeling out of control
- Moodiness
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Low self-esteem
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder - Preoccupation with food and calorie intake
- Borderline personality disorder
http://www.mirror-mirror.org/anxiety-depression-and-anorexia-symptoms.htm
Here are some of other psychological symptoms of anorexia nervosa:
- Depression and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
- Ignoring feelings of hunger
- Concern about being overweight
- Denial of being underweight
- Distorted perception of self
- Fear of weight gain and being too fat
- Preoccupation with tidiness
- Obsessing about exercising
- Anxiety when eating in front of other people
- Feeling that happiness is undeserved
- Constantly striving for perfection
- Strong urge to be in control
http://www.disordered-eating.co.uk/signs-of-eating-disorders/signs-of-anorexia-nervosa.html
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/anorexia-nervosa-000012.htm
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