EATING DISORDERS—ANOREXIA

Anorectics keep body weight at least 15% less than the norm. Females lose menstrual cycles for at least 3 consecutive months. There is an irrational fear of weight gain often coupled with a distorted assessment of body size and a great need to control their environment.

Anorexia Nervosa Warning Signs

Anorexia symptoms may include:

• Thin appearance
• Abnormal blood counts
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Brittle nails
• Hair that thins, breaks or falls out
• Soft, downy hair covering the body
• Menstrual irregularities or loss of menstruation (amenorrhea)
• Constipation
• Dry skin
• Frequently being cold
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Low blood pressure
• Dehydration
• Bone loss

Emotional and behavioral symptoms of anorexia may include:

• Refusal to eat
• Denial of hunger
• Excessive exercise
• Flat mood or lack of emotion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Preoccupation with food

Red flags that family and friends may notice include:

• Skipping meals
• Making excuses for not eating
• Eating only a few certain "safe" foods, usually those low in fat and calories
• Adopting rigid meal or eating rituals, such as cutting food into tiny pieces or spitting food out after chewing
• Weighing food
• Cooking elaborate meals for others but refusing to eat them themselves
• Repeated weighing of themselves
• Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
• Wearing baggy or layered clothing
• Complaining about being fat