One of the most common and potentially fatal of the eating disorders is anorexia nervosa. This disorder affects a huge number of young women for a variety of reasons. It has also been established that around twenty percent of sufferers of this disorder are young males. It can also affect both males and females in the older age bracket.

Obviously, one of the most visible signs of this disorder is the excessive weight loss that comes with self starvation. The sufferers of this illness severely restrict their intake of food and suffer great anxiety at the thought of losing control of their weight. The thought of becoming fat creates incredible stress for them. Health professionals believe that anorexia nervosa is more closely related to low self esteem and feelings of worthlessness than it is to actual food and weight.

There are serious medical complications and psychological problems associated with anorexia nervosa. Around ten percent of sufferers die from the physical complications of the disorder although there is certainly hope for people if they seek assistance in time. The sooner they seek medical help, the greater their chances of recovery from this insidious illness.

Main signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa

There is a large number of warning signs that may be a sign that a person has anorexia nervosa but there are also some main signs and symptoms to look out for. These include:

Dieting until they lose excessive amounts of weight and refusing to gain weight despite the unhealthy weight level they have reached;

An incredible dread about putting on weight or about losing control of their food intake;

The belief that other people see them as being fat even though their weight is well below normal. The sufferer also believes that he or she is still fat;

Putting ridiculously severe restrictions on food intake; and

Periods will possibly stop for a woman past puberty and may not even begin for those who develop this disorder before reaching puberty.

Warning signs of anorexia nervosa

There are also a large number of warning signs though these are not a way to form a diagnosis. They may, however, give out a warning to people that a loved one has a problem and may need help. Some of these behavioral signs include:

A person performing peculiar rituals around food. This may include things such as: • Chewing each mouthful a certain amount of times or eating their food in a certain order;

• Choosing to eat alone rather than in company;

• Refusal to attend any social gatherings where there is food involved;

• Categorizing foods, including entire food groups, into good and bad foods;

• Excessive exercising;

• Excessive weighing;

• Living their life around food;

• Totally preoccupied with food, dieting, and weight loss;

• Becoming withdrawn from family and friends;

• Denial of feeling hungry; and

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