Someone with anorexia eats very little food, and is very particular about what food she does eat. Anorexia can result in severe weight loss, which can endanger the patient’s health and even cause death by starvation. In addition to the physical danger of not eating enough, anorexia is highly correlated with anxiety, depression, addiction, and suicide. The sooner anorexia is noticed and treated, the better the chance of recovery. Since everyone is different, not everyone will exhibit the same symptoms of anorexia, but they may include some of the following.
Physical signs
The most obvious sign of anorexia is rapid or severe weight loss. Despite being extremely thin, people with anorexia will still see themselves as overweight. People with anorexia will often wear baggy clothes or layers, making their weight loss less noticeable. There are mainly two reasons for this. First, they often want to conceal their weight loss so no one bothers them about it. Anorexia is more about control than appearing attractive and covering up helps achieve that. Second, with almost no body fat and a very slowed metabolism, people with anorexia are often cold Other physical sign include brittle hair and nails, yellowish and dry skin, growth of fine hair all over the body, and lethargy.
Behavioral signs
The most obvious behavioral sign of anorexia is being extremely picky about food. People with anorexia will eat very little and often adhere to strict rules about what they can eat and what they can’t. They might be strictly no carbs, for example. They may cook for others but not eat. If they do eat a reasonable amount, they might disappear to the bathroom for a while shortly after. They may try to conceal the problem by avoiding situations in which they might be expected to eat, such as making excuses to skip dinner with friends or family. You may also notice a constant preoccupation with food, weight, or body image, frequently saying she feels fat. Someone with anorexia may weigh herself several times a day. She may be obsessive about how many calories she consumes of what kind. She may also be obsessive about exercise.
Medical signs
There are many medical symptoms of anorexia, but few may be outwardly obvious. The more apparent symptoms include stomach cramps, dizziness, fainting, erosion of tooth enamel, thinning hair, wounds that don’t heal, and frequent illnesses. Less apparent signs might include irregular periods or loss of menstruation in women, anemia, muscle weakness, and cold hands and feet.
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