Understanding Anorexia Nervosa
Recognizing the Signs, Finding Support, and Seeking Treatment
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) is a serious mental illness characterized by an obsession with weight, food and calories. People struggling with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight leading to a restriction of food intake. Those struggling with anorexia have a hard time recognizing the reality of their current weight.
What are common warning signs of Anorexia Nervosa?
Detecting an eating disorder can be a layered and sensitive topic. A big indicator might be a noticeable change in a person’s attitudes towards food and their body. Several signs of anorexia may include:
Significant weight loss or low body weight
Significant weight loss or low body weight in individuals with anorexia nervosa is often due to extreme food restriction, excessive exercise, or other compensatory behaviors. This can lead to severe physical health risks, including malnutrition and organ damage.
Dry or brittle hair/skin/nails
These are common physical signs of anorexia nervosa, resulting from the body’s lack of essential nutrients due to severe food restriction. This can cause the body to divert limited resources away from non-essential functions, leading to visible changes in hair, skin, and nails.
Dizziness/fatigue
Often caused by malnutrition, dehydration, and the body’s inability to maintain normal energy levels. These symptoms occur as the body struggles to function with insufficient nutrients and energy
Obsessive thoughts or preoccupation with dieting, exercising, or body image
Obsessive thoughts or preoccupation with dieting, exercising, or body image are hallmark signs of anorexia nervosa, where individuals constantly focus on controlling their weight and appearance. This intense fixation can dominate their thoughts, leading to unhealthy behaviors and attitudes toward food and body image.
New food rituals
Individuals with anorexia nervosa may develop specific, rigid food rituals, such as cutting food into tiny pieces or arranging it in particular ways, as a way to exert control over their eating habits.
Increased anxiety or depression
Anorexia often coexists with heightened anxiety and depression, as the stress of managing food intake, body image, and societal pressures can exacerbate emotional distress.
Sensitivity to cold
Due to the body’s decreased fat stores and overall malnutrition, people with anorexia often feel cold more easily, even in warmer environments, as the body struggles to regulate its temperature.
Social Isolation
As the disorder progresses, individuals may withdraw from social situations, avoiding meals with others or feeling uncomfortable in social settings, which can worsen feelings of loneliness and disconnection.
What is “atypical” Anorexia Nervosa?
“Atypical” Anorexia Nervosa is a term sometimes used when an individual is not considered “underweight” but is still exhibiting signs of anorexia nervosa. Unfortunately, due to weight stigma and stereotypes around eating disorders many individuals do not seek or receive the treatment they deserve. It’s important to remember that eating disorders may develop in anyone at any body size.
Treatment Options for Anorexia Nervosa:
Finding Help
If you need help finding an eating disorder treatment provider, browse the ANAD Treatment Directory or call our Helpline at 1-888-375-7767 to request a personalized treatment referral. Our peer support volunteers are here to help you!
Individualized Treatment
Residential care, outpatient therapy, and dietitian support are key treatment options for anorexia nervosa. Individualized treatment for anorexia nervosa involves creating a personalized care plan tailored to the unique needs of the individual. This may include a combination of:
- Structured Programs
- Therapy Sessions
- Nutritional Guidance
It’s best to work with your healthcare professional to develop the right combination of medical, nutritional, and therapeutic support for you. Check out our patient advocacy page to learn more about how to advocate for yourself in a medical setting.
I’m concerned about or am currently supporting a loved one with ARFID. What should I do?
We are sorry to hear about your loved one’s battle with ARFID and are here to support you!
Download our How to Have A Convo Guide for several tips on navigating those early conversations with your loved one including the use of “I” statements and the importance of listening.
ANAD has partnered with FEAST to offer weekly support groups for parents, caregivers, and siblings. These free, virtual spaces offer the opportunity to connect and build community with others experiencing similar situations. You are not in this alone!
Support at every stage
This guide provides essential information and tangible suggestions for effectively supporting an adult in your life through the process of treatment and recovery.
Where can I learn more about Anorexia Nervosa?
Check out these resources from our treatment center partners and more about the lived experience with anorexia and the road to recovery from several members of the ANAD Community.
Michele: Annihilating Anorexia
Studies suggest that anorexia nervosa may be a brain-based illness, with differences in brain structure and activity compared to those without an eating disorder, which may contribute to restrictive eating behaviors. This research underscores that anorexia is a serious illness, not a lifestyle choice, and helps reduce the stigma and shame often associated with it.
Erin: Fighting Anorexia & Finding Hope With The Color Yellow
Erin shares her journey of struggling with anorexia nervosa, describing how her eating disorder became intertwined with her identity, making it difficult to separate herself from it. After a long period of denial, Erin was eventually diagnosed with anorexia during her senior year of college, and though initially resistant to treatment, she later realized the severity of her condition.
Finding help for anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa can lead to serious, life-threatening complications if untreated, making it crucial to seek help. Effective treatment should address the physical, mental, social, and emotional aspects of the disorder, combining nutritional counseling for weight restoration with mental health therapy to tackle the underlying emotional and psychological challenges.