Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and extreme weight loss.
Symptoms often include:
- excessive weight loss
- severe dietary restrictions
- hoarding, concealing, picking at, crumbling or throwing away food
- cutting food into small pieces or re-arranging it
- intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight
- denial of the seriousness of the low body weight
- distorted view of body
- amenorrhea in women ( loss of menstrual periods)
- preoccupation with food – reading recipes, preparing food only for others
- wearing baggy or layered clothing to conceal weight loss or to keep warm
- compulsive activity
- social withdrawal
- secretiveness
Physical Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:
- difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
- sensitivity to cold
- lowered blood pressure which may result in fainting, dizziness
- muscle weakness and fatigue
- shrinking of muscles and other organs – including the brain
- thinning of hair or hair loss
- pale skin tone
- downy hair (lanuga) on face and arms
- dry cracked skin
- constipation
- osteoporosis
- heart failure, death