Common Anorexia Symptoms
Often seen as an eating disorder reserved for white middle-class teenage girls, research has revealed that anorexia doesn't discriminate based on race, age, class, or gender. Though predominately a condition afflicting females, over 2.5 million Americans—boys and girls, men and women, rich and poor, Asian, Latino, Caucasian, and African American—suffer from anorexia, and it is now being seen in patients as young as 9 years old.
People with anorexia resist maintaining a healthy body weight, have an intense fear of putting on weight, and exhibit extreme behaviors resulting in severe weight loss. They lose pounds mainly by severely restricting the amount of food they eat and by over-exercising. Anorexics have distorted body images. They look in a mirror and see themselves as overweight even though they are precariously thin.
The causes of anorexia are not clear, but it is likely a combination of multiple factors:
1. Genetics. Recent research reveals that anorexia may be attributed to genetics, similar to alcoholism or depression. While such diseases can be triggered by stress or trauma, they are rooted in genes and brain chemistry.
2. Family Environment. Parents who stress appearance and criticize their children's bodies increase their chances of having an anorexic child. The likelihood of developing anorexia also increases if somebody else in a family suffers from it.
3. Culture. American society stresses extreme skinniness. With the images the media presents, beauty has become synonymous with thinness.
4. Psychological State. Anorexics sometimes feel they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. Someone with anorexia may feel helpless and hate the way she looks, and she sees anorexia as an outlet for self control and perfectionism.
So while the exact causes of anorexia are unknown, the effects are and they can be fatal. Anorexia has one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. Anywhere from 5-10 percent die, with death caused by starvation, electrolyte imbalance, or suicide. About half of anorexics recover; the rest spend their lives battling the disorder.
Despite its caustic effects, thousands of anorexics persist in their dangerous habits and find support on a recent trend of pro-anorexia Web sites. Such sites contain countless postings:
Starting a seven-day water fast tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Only problem is that mom will try to make me eat. Any tips on how to get through seven days of dinners without my mom making me eat?
Parents concerned their child might harbor similar thoughts can be on the lookout. Anorexia has several physical, emotional, and behavioral signs and symptoms besides weight loss:
- fears gaining weight
- won't eat in front of others
- weighs food and counts calories
- has dry skin and thinning hair on the head, fine hair all over their body, and brittle nails
- acts moody or depressed
- doesn't socialize
- has absent or irregular periods
- feels cold frequently
- has difficulty concentrating
- takes pills to urinate or have a bowel movement (BM)
- doesn't eat or follow a strict diet
- constantly exercises
- moves food around the plate; doesn't eat it
- talks about weight and food all the time
- adopts rigid meal or eating rituals
- feels fatigued or dizzy
- has a flat mood, or lack of emotion
- frequent checks the mirror for perceived flaws
- wears baggy clothes to hide appearances
One of the difficulties in treating anorexia is that people suffering from the disease usually don't consider it an illness. They deny that they even have a problem. While there are no FDA-approved medications to treat the condition, help is available to anorexics and their families. Hospitals, clinics, and specialized eating disorder centers can provide care. If the condition poses an immediate threat, emergency care may be needed for dehydration, psychiatric issues, and electrolyte imbalances. Treatment usually entails a team effort with professionals trained in eating disorders, including medical providers, dieticians, and mental health professionals:
1. Medical Providers. Hospitalization may be required as people with anorexia often need frequent monitoring of vital signs, hydration level, and electrolytes.
2. Dieticians. A dietitian helps outline and implement a healthy diet by providing specific meal plans and monitoring calorie requirements.
3. Mental Health Professionals. Therapy takes place individually, as a family, or with a group. One or multiple approaches may be beneficial.
While concerned parents can't force children with anorexia to stop, it is important to love and support them their struggles. The National Eating Disorders Foundation (www.edap.org) offers the following advice:
1. Learn as much as you can about eating disorders. Read books, articles, and brochures.
2. Know the differences between facts and myths about weight, nutrition, and exercise. Knowing the facts will help you reason against any inaccurate ideas that your child may be using as excuses to maintain their disordered eating patterns.
3. Be honest. Talk openly and honestly about your concerns with the child who is struggling with eating or body image problems. Avoiding it or ignoring it won't help!
4. Be caring, but be firm. Caring about your child does not mean being manipulated by them. Your child must be responsible for their actions and the consequences of those actions. Avoid making rules, promises, or expectations that you cannot or will not uphold. For example, "I promise not to tell anyone." Or, "If you do this one more time I'll never talk to you again."
5. Compliment your child's wonderful personality, successes, or accomplishments. Remind your child that "true beauty" is not simply skin deep.
6. Be a good role model in regard to sensible eating, exercise, and self-acceptance.
7. Tell someone. It may seem difficult to know when, if at all, to tell someone else about your concerns. Addressing body image or eating problems in their beginning stages offers your child the best chance for working through these issues and becoming healthy again. Don't wait until the situation is so severe that your child's life is in danger. Your child needs as much support and understanding as possible.
More Common Symptoms of Anorexia
Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and binge eating are often difficult to detect and diagnose. There are, however, very specific telltale signs to look for if you suspect your child or someone you know may have an eating disorder. It is essential to seek treatment for individuals suffering from eating disorders as quickly as possible. The sooner treatment is started, the better the chance of recovering from the ravages that these illnesses can wreak on body and mind.
Symptoms of Anorexia can be categorized into five main groups: Behavioral, Cognitive, Physical, Emotional and Social. They vary in severity depending upon how advanced the illness is.
Behavioral Symptoms may include:
- Preoccupation with food, including collecting recipes and/or cookbooks, offering to cook meals for family and friends, making menus.
- Unusual eating habits. A child suffering from Anorexia may cut all her food into tiny pieces before eating it. She may habitually push food around on her plate without actually consuming much of anything.
- Wearing baggy clothing to disguise the amount of weight being lost.
- Increasing consumption of liquids including diet sodas, tea, water, etc.
- Labeling food as either 'good' or 'bad' with generally an increased urge to binge on 'bad' foods.
- Fear of gaining weight.
- Substance abuse.
- Inability to tell whether or not they are full or hungry. The body's natural mechanisms for indicating hunger or satiety are disturbed.
Cognitive Symptoms may include:
- Poor decision making skills.
- Decrease in ability to concentrate.
- General apathy. This may present itself as a decrease or absence of interest in people and activities which previously were found enjoyable.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Seeing issues generally as black and white without any room for reasoning.
- Less need for sleep.
Physical Symptoms are extensive and may include:
- Amenorrhea. This is discontinuation of menstrual periods. This can also occur in people who have extremely high levels of physical activity.
- Osteopenia. This is a weakening of the bones which can lead to osteoporosis and fractures.
- Brittle and dry hair and nails.
- Constantly feeling cold and yet having heat intolerance.
- Lanugo. This is a fine, downy covering of light colored hair all over the body. This is the body's way of warming itself during times of famine as body fat is lost.
- Constipation and/or upset stomach.
- Muscle atrophy. This wasting away also affects the heart muscle and, if the eating disorder is not treated, can permanently damage the heart.
- Fatigue. This is brought on by iron deficiency, malnutrition, muscle weakness and electrolyte imbalances.
- Lowered immune system causing more incidence of illness.
- Easy bruising.
- Bloating.
- Kidney stones and eventual kidney failure.
Social Anorexia Symptoms may include:
- Depression and anxiety.
- Mood swings.
- Irritability.
- Socially withdrawn. This can include a refusal to socialize as well as avoiding social situations which involve food and eating.
- Distinctive personality changes.
- Feelings of guilt.
Not all of these signs and symptoms will be present in a person suffering from Anorexia. Additionally, a person suffering form Anorexia or Bulimia may take active steps to hide symptoms adding to the difficulty of diagnosis. If you suspect that Anorexia or Bulimia may be present, an initial visit to your doctor will probably include tests to rule out other possible causes of these symptoms including metabolic, endocrine or nervous system disorders. Once these are ruled out and it is determined that malnutrition is the cause of the symptoms, laboratory tests will generally be conducted to assess the amount of damage done to the body. Treatment will then be initiated which will involve a multi-dimensional approach, addressing both physical and psychological healing.
Sources: Nationaleatingdisorders.org, aedweb.org, anred.com, anad.org, somethingfishy.org, edreferral.com, npr.org, Sheri Barke, MPH, RD, web4health
