ANOREXIA NERVOSA
Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by intentionally restricting food in order to lose weight. Those who have participated in restricting behaviors for a long period of time may appear underweight or emaciated. However, a person who is struggling with a form of Anorexia might not be underweight. You cannot always tell by looking at the person if they struggle with Anorexia. They have difficulty wanting to maintain a body weight appropriate for height, age, and build due to an intense fear of gaining weight. Sufferers typically develop an obsession with losing weight, creating their own food restrictions and possibly compulsive exercise routines. It may also include laxative use, vomiting, and binge eating. They may be in denial of the seriousness of their low body weight. They may see themselves as “fat” even though they are of normal or low weight. Negative body image is experienced. Those who struggle with Anorexia have 10 times the risk of dying compared to same-age peers. Death may be due to cardiovascular issues, multiple organ failure, or suicide.
Common symptoms of Anorexia nervosa may include:
- Constantly striving toward low body weight
- Fear of weight gain – Needs to “burn” off calories
- Distorted body image – may wear baggy clothing to disguise low body weight
- Expresses cold intolerance
- Possible loss of menstrual periods in females
- Cold intolerance
- Possible loss of menstrual periods in females
- Impotence in males
- Increased irritability
- Inflexible thinking – possible perfectionism
- Preoccupied with weight, food, calories, dieting
- Hair loss/thinning hair
- Denies feeling hungry, makes excuses not to eat
- Complains of being tired all the time
- Early osteoporosis i.e., loss of bone mass
- Constipation
- Stomach distress
- Lightheadedness
- Headaches/migraines
- Low resting heart rate/chest pain or discomfort