Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms

Anorexia Nervosa: Introduction

Anorexia nervosa also referred to as anorexia is an eating disorder whereby an individual is unable to maintain a healthy body weight.

Women and teen aged girls are often found with signs of anorexia nervosa although it is not uncommon to find the symptoms in men too. Anorexia is best described as a psychological problem that leads to an eating disorder.

What are the Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms?

A primary symptom is abnormal weight loss. You may start to follow a skimpy diet. In addition, you may have a self derogatory image, and may perceive yourself to be overweight, although you possess a healthy body weight.

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa can differ among individuals. Nonetheless, you may or may not display any identifiable indication for the disease.

Some of the anorexia nervosa signs and symptoms:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Sleep disturbances
• Thinning of hair
• Dry skin
• Skimpy diet
• Prefer to eat alone
• Wearing loose apparels to hide body shape
• Perceive self to be obese
• Fear of gaining weight
• Rapid and dramatic weight loss
• Rapid heart beats
• Prefer solitude
• Depression

Weight loss is an anorexia symptom and not its cause, as is widely believed. Individuals with anorexia nervosa symptoms often suffer from a distorted self image. They tend to think of themselves to be obese, which is not the case.

This unnatural fear of putting on additional body weight makes them abstain from eating to a point of near starvation.

Anorexia can also be an indirect result or a subconscious way of distracting yourself from other difficult situations in your life.

Moreover, the symptoms are unapparent to the sufferer and on top of that, the unhealthy body changes that occur make perfect sense to him or her.