Anorexia nervosa, more commonly known as anorexia, is a serious eating disorder. While most common in teenage and young adult females, anorexia affects both men and women of all ages. When someone is anorexic, she has a distorted view of her body. An anorexic will possess a fear of gaining weight and maintain a low body weight. There is no single cause of anorexia. It is believed that it is a result of a person's unique makeup, combined with societal and cultural pressures about body image. In addition, family and friends can contribute to a person's anorexia. If you know someone with anorexia, it's important to identify the issue and get the person help.
Instructions
1. Consider if the person has lost significant weight in a short period of time. This is often a symptom of anorexia. Healthy weight loss should be gradual.
2. Assess how often the person eats. If someone regularly skips meals, it is a sign of anorexia. Someone might also simply cut up or rearrange his food to make it appear that he has eaten. This is definitely a symptom of anorexia, as he is simply trying to fool others into thinking he is eating while not actually doing so.
3. Determine if the person in question will not eat in front of other people. Anorexic people are often incredibly self-conscious about consuming food in front of others. This is due to the psychological effects of the eating disorder.
4. Observe physical changes in the person. Physical symptoms of anorexia include hair loss, weak fingernails and very low body fat. Someone with anorexia might also often be cold. As a result of this coldness, she may exhibit a light hair growth, known as peach fuzz, over her entire body.
5. Assess any clothing changes. A person who is anorexic may begin wearing baggy and oversized clothing to hide weight loss from friends and family members.
6. Listen to the person's comments on weight and body image. If the person is often talking about a desire to lose weight, dieting, nutritional information and other people's weight, it could be a sign of anorexia. Those who are anorexic possess an unnatural obsession with food, body image and weight.
7. Notice the person's exercise routine. Anorexic people may exercise obsessively, often to the point of exhaustion. If the person is exercising for excessive amounts of time or at odd hours of the night, it can be a sign of anorexia.
8. Be aware of any mood changes. If someone who used to be happy and lighthearted now seems to be morose, quiet or withdrawn, it may be the result of an eating disorder.
9. Consider the person's overall health. If she complains of dizziness, faintness or headaches, be concerned. Low glucose levels as a result of poor nutrition can lead to dizziness and fainting.
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