Anorexia Nervosa

Note: Throughout this information, we use "she" when referring to a person with anorexia nervosa. However, anorexia nervosa is becoming increasingly prevalent among males. This information on anorexia nervosa is also applicable to men.

Anorexia nervosa is very serious and has an impact on both physical and mental health. Left untreated, anorexia nervosa can be fatal. People develop anorexia nervosa as a way of dealing with the conflicts, pressures, and stresses of their lives. Anorexia nervosa may be used as a way to express control when the rest of one's life seems out of control.

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is self-imposed starvation. Anorexia nervosa is a serious, life-threatening disorder which usually stems from underlying emotional causes. Although people with anorexia nervosa are obsessed with food, they continually deny their hunger. Women with anorexia nervosa often also limit or restrict other parts of their lives besides food, including relationships, social activities, or pleasure. Anorexia nervosa can cause severe medical problems and even lead to death.

Anorexia Nervosa Warning Signs

There are many warning signs which indicate that someone may be suffering from anorexia nervosa. A person with anorexia nervosa may exhibit one, all, or any combination of these warning signs. Becoming aware of these warning signs is the first step in helping someone suffering from anorexia nervosa. When you help someone with anorexia nervosa, you may end up saving her life.

Common warning signs of anorexia nervosa:

• A person suffering from anorexia nervosa is thin and keeps getting thinner. A person with anorexia nervosa may end up losing 15% or more of her ideal body weight.
• A person with anorexia nervosa continues to diet or restrict foods even though she is not overweight.
• Anorexia nervosa creates a distorted body image—a person with anorexia nervosa feels fat even when she is thin or underweight.
• A person with anorexia nervosa is preoccupied with food, calories, nutrition, or cooking.
• A person suffering from anorexia nervosa will deny that she is hungry.
• A person with anorexia nervosa will tend to exercise obsessively.
• Anorexia nervosa may cause a person to complain about feeling bloated or nauseated even when she eats normal—or less than normal—amounts of food.
• A person with anorexia nervosa may weighs herself with abnormal frequency.
• Loss of hair or thinning hair may indicate anorexia nervosa.
• A person suffering from anorexia nervosa may feel cold even though the temperature is normal or only slightly cool.
• A person with anorexia nervosa may stop menstruating.

How can I help someone with anorexia nervosa?

You may know someone suffering from anorexia nervosa. You may suspect that someone you know has anorexia nervosa but are not certain. You may feel that you are beginning to exhibit some warning signs for anorexia nervosa. What should you do?

If you feel that you or someone you know may be suffering from anorexia nervosa, it is important to seek professional counseling as quickly as possible. If untreated, anorexia nervosa will become part of a destructive cycle which can continue for years and eventually lead to death.

Anorexia Nervosa Resources

The Renfrew Center offers an array of resources concerning anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders including bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder . For a list of anorexia nervosa resources, including books, magazines, and films on anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, click here.

This information is provided by The Renfrew Center Foundation to provide helpful information regarding anorexia nervosa. The Renfrew Center Foundation is dedicated to supporting research, education, and advocacy in the field of anorexia nervosa treatment and research. To receive a copy of this information in a printed brochure, please call 1-800-RENFREW.