WHAT IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA?

Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The chances for recovery increase the earlier anorexia nervosa is detected. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the symptoms and warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa.

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SYMPTOMS

Anorexia Nervosa has five primary symptoms:

	Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body     type, age, and activity level
	Intense fear of weight gain or being "fat"
	Feeling "fat" or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
	Loss of menstrual periods in post-puberty women and girls
	Extreme concern with body weight and shape

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WARNING SIGNS

The warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa include:

	Dramatic weight loss
	Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
	Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food     (i.e., no carbohydrates, etc.)
	Frequent comments about feeling "fat" or overweight despite weight loss
	Anxiety about gaining weight or being "fat"
	Denial of hunger
	Development of food rituals (i.e., eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing,     rearranging food on a plate)
	Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food
	Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, and injury, the need     to "burn off" calories taken in
	Withdrawal from usual friends and activities
	In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food     are becoming primary concerns

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HEALTH CONSEQUENCES

Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. When the body is denied essential nutrients, it can't function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This "slowing down" can have serious medical consequences:

	Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is     changing. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink     lower and lower.
	Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones
	Muscle loss and weakness
	Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure
	Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness
	Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common
	Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face; in an     effort to keep the body warm

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For more information about Anorexia Nervosa, visit the National Eating Disorders Association web site.

References:

Gidwani, G.P. and Rome, ES. (1997). Eating Disorders. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 40(3),601-615.

Hsu, G.LK. (1996). Epidemiology of the Eating Disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North Anzerica, 19(4), 681-697.

Zerbe, KJ. (1995). The Body Betrayed. Carlsbad, CA: Giirze Books.