Anorexia Nervosa


Anorexia is a brain disease with severe metabolic effects on the entire body. Eating disorders do not discriminate based on ethnicity, culture, gender, religion, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, body weight, shape, or size.

SYMPTOMS/WARNING SIGNS
  • Intense fear of weight gain
  • Resistant to maintain a healthy body weight
  • Body image distortion
  • May purge caloric intake using compensatory mechanisms
  • Restricting energy intake
  • Denial of the seriousness of low body weight
  • Isolation
  • Excuses for not eating
  • Preoccupation with food, weight, calories
  • Rituals
  • Thin, dull, dry hair, skin and nails
  • Inability to tolerate cold temperatures
  • Difficulty sleeping
SUB-TYPES

Restricting Type: Individuals maintain low body weight by significantly limiting their food intake

Binge-eating/Purging Type: Individuals restrict their food intake and routinely engage in binge-eating and/or purging behaviors