Anorexia Nervosa

In simple terms, anorexia is self-imposed starvation. It can lead to permanent, severe medical problems (e.g., infertility, osteoporosis) and death. In the short term, anorexia can cause the cessation of normal physical and psychological development, leaving the patient "stuck" at a certain developmental stage.

Some signs/symptoms:

1. Weight loss or, in the case of the still-growing child, failure to gain weight.
2. Dieting or food-restricting even if not overweight
3. Preoccupation with thinness
4. Distorted body image - a marked discrepancy between what she thinks she looks like and what others see.
5. Denies hunger
6. Excessive exercise, and/or distress when she can't exercise
7. Weighs herself frequently and/or does other "checking" behavior such as measuring, feeling abdomen, etc
8. Thinning hair, a general appearance of not being "well"
9. Sadness, isolation (doesn't connect with friends in the same way), nervousness, agitation
10. Becomes rigid about other things (e.g., grades, performance)
11. Rituals with food that weren't present before
12. Cold intolerance
13. Ceases menstruation, or has menstrual irregularities
14. Just doesn't seem like herself

For parents: Please note that while the above are all hallmarks of eating disorders, some people are very skilled at hiding their struggles with food and eating. If you have a concern about your child's eating behaviors/attitudes, even if she doesn't fit the symptom profile, pay attention to your instincts. A parental feeling of something being "not quite right" should never be ignored.

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