Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a complicated eating disorder, often rooted in both biological and psychological issues. The main characteristics are:

  • Intense drive for thinness, resulting in severe emaciation
  • Significant weight loss
  • Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
  • Distorted body image
  • [For women] Cessation of the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea) for at least three months
  • [For men] Decreased sexual drive


Important Facts

  • Typically develops in adolescence or young adulthood
  • Affects about one in 2,400 adolescents
  • 90-95 percent of affected individuals are female
  • Usually preceded by dieting behavior, including exercise
  • Psychological problems displaced onto food
  • Unusual food behaviors
  • Vicarious enjoyment of food (e.g., cooking it, serving it, being around it)
  • Preoccupation with body weight and image
  • Weight loss becomes increasingly important
  • Denial of the condition can be extreme
  • Body image disturbance (i.e., misperception of body size and shape)
  • Pronounced emotional changes
  • Low self-esteem

Warning Signs
Because early detection is key to successful recovery, it is important to recognize the common warning signs of anorexia nervosa:

  • Significant or extreme weight loss with no other medical illness to account for weight loss
  • Reduction in food intake
  • Ritualistic eating habits (e.g., cutting food into extremely small bites or chewing every bite excessively)
  • Denial of hunger
  • Critical and intolerant of others
  • Excessive exercising
  • Choosing low- to no-fat and low calorie foods
  • Feelings of being too big, especially when this is not true
  • Highly self-controlled behavior
  • Hiding emotions
  • Progressive withdrawal from friends and family

Who’s at Risk
Individuals who:

  • Participate in sports with weight criteria
  • Aspire to work in fields with emphasis on thinness
  • Previously were overweight or teased about weight
  • Have a family history of eating disorders, weight consciousness
  • Have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, are socially insecure
  • Have a history of abuse -- physical, sexual or psychological -- or other trauma
  • Present a public image different from how they really feel about themselves
  • Have difficulty identifying and/or verbalizing feelings, especially anger
  • Engaging in obsessive running or participation in other sports

More Information on Anorexia>>
(provided by the Saint Francis Health System's subscription Health Library)

 


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