Here are 9 common signs and symptoms of anorexia, purging to control weight. Obsession with food, calories and diet. Changes in mood and emotional state. Denial of hunger and refusal to eat.
The main symptom of anorexia is deliberately losing a lot of weight or keeping your body weight much lower than is healthy for your age and height. The people closest to you are the ones who know you best: parents, children, spouses and your closest friends. They know the moods, habits, likes and dislikes of a person, etc. However, it is unlikely that the people closest to you are doctors or specialists in eating disorders, and they are likely not aware of the early symptoms of anorexia nervosa, which could indicate that the first steps towards treating anorexia nervosa are needed.
If you Google the term “symptoms of anorexia nervosa”, there will be a lot of photos of thin young women, mostly white, with ribs in sight, etc. While that is a very visible symptom of the disorder, it is far from being the only one. Malnutrition and emaciation are the result of a long-term disorder or an extremely serious one. Everyone gets tired sometimes, even young adults who are brimming with youthful energy.
It makes a certain sense: it takes a lot of energy to go from a child to an adult, and teenagers and young adults definitely need sleep. There are other factors that can also cause fatigue. On the one hand, athletics and other extracurricular activities can be demanding. Often, this fusion of strenuous activities can lead to a decrease in sleep and an increase in general fatigue.
During this period, the body of a teenage girl or boy often needs more sleep due to hormonal and developmental changes. Despite this need, research has found that most teens don't get the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep per night. With this type of pressure, it is no wonder that these years often bring increased tiredness and fatigue. However, another reason for such fatigue may be lack of caloric intake.
As you probably know, calories act as fuel for our body; we need them to keep our brains working and our hearts beating. Anorexia nervosa is, by definition, a pattern of behavior that restricts caloric intake and, therefore, decreases the amount of fuel the body ingests. If you notice that your loved one is constantly showing fatigue (especially if you notice that he eats too little), it may be a clear warning sign that anorexia nervosa is developing. But for parents and other loved ones who suspect that there may be a problem with an eating disorder, any reports of constipation or abdominal pain should be closely watched.
Since they are common symptoms of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, they may warrant closer observation by immediate family members and medical professionals. Teens and young adults need extended periods of sleep, more than older adults, because of the rapid mental and physical growth they experience during this time. Adolescence, ironically, can often provoke episodes of insomnia. In fact, for many people in this age group, this is the first time they have to deal with the inability to sleep despite needing it and wanting to do it.
While insomnia or general insomnia may present as a normal part of adolescent development, it is also a common side effect of caloric restriction and other disordered behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa. This makes insomnia a subtle indicator of a larger problem that is difficult to detect. If parents or loved ones of a young adult notice a sudden onset of insomnia along with other signs of anorexia nervosa, it is advisable to analyze the situation in more depth. While any of the symptoms may be harmless, they could be indicators that there is more at stake than an attack of insomnia or a preference for loose-fitting clothing.
Certainly, when there are two or more of these signs, an appointment with an expert who can make a more correct diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or another eating disorder is warranted. If you or someone you know is experiencing signs and symptoms of anorexia, it's essential that you seek help and attention as soon as possible. If you begin to have the same behaviors or experience symptoms of anorexia that you had before, it is important that you seek help again right away. A person with anorexia usually doesn't have all of these signs and symptoms at once, and warning signs and symptoms vary by eating disorder, so it's not intended to be a checklist.
Considering that denial is common among people with eating disorders in mind, the sudden presence of even one of the symptoms on this list deserves further investigation. In addition to weight-related signs of anorexia, there are also physical symptoms that are actually side effects of starvation and malnutrition. Some women may only show some of these symptoms, while others may show many or even all. If signs and symptoms of anorexia occur, the health care provider will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical exam.
Although it may not be possible to prevent all cases of anorexia, it is helpful to begin treatment as soon as someone starts having symptoms. In these cases, the symptoms and effects of overlapping diseases will make them more intense and more difficult to manage. It is not unknown that people who have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or other types, overlook and hide their symptoms when asked about it. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM), physicians can understand the current severity of a woman's symptoms by referring to the body mass index measurements listed below.
When a woman or girl has any of the symptoms discussed below, it is likely evidence that care is needed for anorexia. . .
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