What are the signs and symptoms of anorexia?

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What are the signs and symptoms of anorexia?

You cannot tell if a person has anorexia just by their appearance because anorexia also involves mental and behavioral components — not just physical. A person does not need to be underweight to have anorexia. Larger-bodied individuals can also have anorexia. However, they may be less likely to be diagnosed due to cultural stigma against fat and obesity. In addition, someone can be underweight without having anorexia. Remember, anorexia also includes psychological and behavioral components as well as physical.

There are several emotional, behavioral and physical signs and symptoms of anorexia. If you or someone you know experiences the signs and symptoms of anorexia below, it’s important to seek help.

Emotional and mental signs of anorexia

Emotional and mental signs of anorexia include:

  • Having an intense fear of gaining weight.
  • Being unable to realistically assess your body weight and shape (having a distorted self-image).
  • Having an obsessive interest in food, calories and dieting.
  • Feeling overweight or “fat,” even if you’re underweight.
  • Fear of certain foods or food groups.
  • Being very self-critical.
  • Denying the seriousness of your low body weight and/or food restriction.
  • Feeling a strong desire to be in control.
  • Feeling irritable and/or depressed.
  • Experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Behavioral signs of anorexia

Behavioral signs of anorexia include:

  • Changes in eating habits or routines, such as eating foods in a certain order or rearranging foods on a plate.
  • A sudden change in dietary preferences, such as eliminating certain food types or food groups.
  • Making frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
  • Purging through intentional vomiting and/or misusing laxatives or diuretics
  • Going to the bathroom right after eating.
  • Using diet pills or appetite suppressants.
  • Compulsive and excessive exercising or extreme physical training.
  • Continuing to diet even when your weight is low for your sex, height and stature.
  • Making meals for others but not yourself.
  • Wearing loose clothing and/or wearing layers to hide weight loss and stay warm.
  • Withdrawing from friends and social events.

Physical signs and symptoms of anorexia

The most well-known physical sign of anorexia is low body weight for a person’s height, sex and stature. However, it’s important to remember that someone can have anorexia without being underweight. In addition to weight-related signs of anorexia, there are also physical symptoms that are actually side effects of starvation and malnutrition.

Physical signs of anorexia include:

  • Significant weight loss over several weeks or months.
  • Not maintaining an appropriate body weight based on your height, age, sex, stature and physical health.
  • Unexplained change in growth curve or body mass index (BMI) in children and still growing adolescents.

Physical symptoms of anorexia that are side effects of starvation and malnutrition include:

  • Dizziness and/or fainting.
  • Feeling tired.
  • Slow heartbeat (bradycardia) or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).
  • Low blood pressure (hypotension).
  • Poor concentration and focus.
  • Feeling cold all the time.
  • Absent periods (amenorrhea) or irregular menstrual periods.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Bloating and/or abdominal pain.
  • Muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass.
  • Dry skin, brittle nails and/or thinning hair.
  • Poor wound healing and frequent illness.
  • Bluish or purple coloring of the hands and feet.

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