WHAT IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA?

Anorexia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant distortion in the perception of the shape or size of his body, as well as dissatisfaction with his body shape and size.

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BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS

	excessive dieting, fasting, restricted diet
	food rituals
	preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning
	compulsive exercise
	difficulty eating with others, lying about eating
	frequently weighing self
	preoccupation with food
	focus on certain body parts; e.g., buttocks, thighs, stomach
	disgust with body size or shape
	distortion of body size; i.e., feels fat even though others tell him he is already very thin

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EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

	intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight
	depression
	social isolation
	strong need to be in control
	rigid, inflexible thinking, "all or nothing"
	decreased interest in sex or fears around sex
	possible conflict over gender identity or sexual orientation
	low sense of self worth--uses weight as a measure of worth
	difficulty expressing feelings
	perfectionistic--strives to be the neatest, thinnest, smartest, etc.
	difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating
	irritability, denial--believes others are overreacting to his low weight or caloric restriction
	insomnia

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PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

	low body weight (I 5% or more below what is expected)
	lack of energy, fatigue
	muscular weakness
	decreased balance, unsteady gait
	lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate
	tingling in hands and feet
	thinning hair or hair loss
	lanugo (downy growth of body hair)
	heart arrhythmia
	lowered testosterone levels