signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa
TRANSCRIPT
SIGNS ANDSYMPTOMS OF
ANOREXIANERVOSA
Herrick Lipton
HERRICKLIPTON .COM
Anorexia Nervosa is a life-threatening eating
disorder. It is characterized by self-starvation and
rapid weight loss, as well as an obsession with losing
weight and a fixation on food. It affects both men
and women, although it affects a higher percentage
of women than men. The following are some signs
and symptoms to look out for.
Anorexia Nervosa
Those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa tend to
become preoccupied with weight. They generally
will spend an enormous amount of time looking at
food labels to count calories and fat grams. They
will weight themselves constantly, often several
times a day.
Obsession with Weight
Anorexic behaviors are centered around an intense
fear of weight gain. In order to assuage this fear,
those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa have a food
intake that is not adequate to maintain their weight.
Therefore, a rapid drop in weight over a short
period of time is expected.
Dramatic Weight Loss
The rationale of those suffering from Anorexia
Nervosa is that they need to constantly be burning
off more calories than they take in. Therefore, they
will adopt regimented exercise schedules. These
schedules will persist no matter what, meaning that
those suffering will exercise through illness, injury,
and more.
Exercise Regimen Rigidity
Those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa can be
afraid of losing control over their eating. In order to
remain in control, they may develop food rituals.
This could encompass anything from constantly
separating ingredients to chewing a certain number
of times per bite.
Food Rituals
People with Anorexia Nervosa develop a list of 'fear
foods,' meaning foods or food groups that they avoid
at all costs. For example, many with Anorexia
Nervosa religiously avoid carbohydrates and/or fats.
This is a behavior that can stay with those suffering,
even well into recovery.
Food Group Avoidance
When the body is subjected to intense physical
exercise without adequate food, mood changes.
People become depressed, irritable, and exhausted.
This is why those suffering from Anorexia Nervosa
tend to withdraw from family and friends.
Social Withdrawal
Even though a person may be losing a dangerous
amount of weight, if he or she is suffering from an
eating disorder, he or she will more likely than not
continue to criticize. Those suffering from Anorexia
Nervosa tend to call themselves 'fat' even when all
evidence points to the contrary.
Constant Criticism of Appearance
For more information about the signs and
symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa, check out the
National Eating Disorders Association at
www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.
For More Information