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Anorexia Nervosa

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.

Anorexia Nervosa: 5 Things To Know (English)
Anorexia Nervosa: 5 Things To Know (Spanish)

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Anorexia often coexists with heightened anxiety and depression, as the stress of managing food intake, body image, and societal pressures can exacerbate emotional distress.

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.

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. 

anorexia nervosa eating disorder warning signs

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!

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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!

anorexia nervosa guide ebook

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Michele: Annihilating Anorexia

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Struggling with Bulimia Nervosa? Learn about symptoms, causes, and recovery strategies for bulimia. Find support, treatment options, and hope for healing.

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Yoga

  • Reconnect with one’s body
    • Promotes mind-body connection, awareness of self, and acceptance.
  • Stress and anxiety reduction
    • Yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting our body’s stress responses.
    • Deep, slow breathing can reduce cortisol  levels (stress hormone) and help calm our minds.
  • Intentional movement
    • Yoga provides a space to mindfully enjoy movement and explore a healthy form of exercise.
  • Long term healing
    • Provides a practice to safely and sustainably lean into.
  • A space for community and support
    • Oftentimes, yoga is done in a group setting, which can increase feelings of connection and lower feelings of loneliness.

After the completion of 7–12 yoga classes, a statistically significant decrease in anxiety, depression, and body image disturbance was seen (Hall et al., 2016).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

Some classes are targeted for rigorous exercise, such as “heated flow” or “power flow.” Please be mindful with what you practice, and look for “slow flow,” “yin,” “vinyasa,” and “restorative” yoga in non-heated rooms.

Music

  • Music can have a powerful effect on people’s mood

    • listening to uplifting or calming songs can help reduce stress and anxious feelings.
  • Music stimulates the limbic system, the part of our brain responsible for processing emotions
    • music triggers the release of serotonin and dopamine, which are associated with reducing feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress (which are often associated with eating disorders)
  • Slow tempo music has been shown to decrease cortisol, our stress hormone, as well as lower blood pressure and reduce heart rate.
  • Music increases the brains neuroplasticity, enhancing brain functions like mood regulation, decision making, and memory.

A study done by Mindlab International revealed that the song “Weightless” by Marconi Union resulted in a 65% reduction in participants’ overall anxiety (Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson).

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  • Ludovico Einaudi
  • Claude Debussy
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
  • José González
  • Laraaji
  • Bill Evans
  • Vance Joy
  • The Paper Kites
  • Moby
  • Tycho

Aromatherapy

  • Aromatherapy can be a helpful, low- cost (or free) tool for people managing eating disorders.
  • Aromatherapy involves using essential oils to help manage emotions and restore balance.
  • Scents can help ground people, encouraging mindfulness about physical and emotional sensations.
  • Can promote a tranquil environment and give a sense (& scent) of peace.
    • creates an atmosphere for individuals to feel safe in processing emotions

Lavender has been shown to reduce anxiety levels. It is seen as a “anxiolytic” solution to providing a coping method for those with anxiety disorders (Yoo & Park, 2023).

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  • Lavender: calm, sleep, relax
  • Chamomile: calm
  • Rose: anxiety reduction
  • Lemon: energy, nausea reduction, concentration
  • Orange: brighten, uplift
  • Jasmine: anxiety reduce, sleep
  • Peppermint: alertness
  • Ylang ylang: calming, stress and anxiety reduction
  • Rosemary: focus

Art

  • Art can help provide a safe space for communication.
  • It can promote a sense of relaxation, and become a calming, meditative like experience (especially in “flow state”).
  • Gives an outlet and coping mechanism for managing difficult emotions.
  • Helps develop healthy habits and routines for self-management.
  • Increases an individuals sense of awareness and understanding of their emotions and thoughts.

Art can boost cognitive function, emotional resilience and self-confidence. It has also been shown to reduce stress and aid in conflict resolution (Hudson University, 2024).

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  • Coloring books
  • Digital coloring or drawing
  • Collaging
  • Sketchbook/journaling/ diary
  • Painting
  • Water coloring
  • Air dry clay (model magic) or traditional clay (ceramics)
  • Photography (use your phone!)
  • So much more!

Creative Journaling & Writing

  • Journaling allows space for self reflection, and emotional release.
  • Free writing can help you connect to your inner voice without judgment.
    • This can look like a steam on consciousness, a short story, or even poetry.
  • Both of these can give you space to problem solve, and look at a situation from a new angle.
  • Try out a prompt, or guided writing exercise if free writing isn’t your thing.
    • Examples & resources below!

Positive writing has been shown to promote positive emotions, as well as positive cognitive mechanisms in the general population (Lai et al., 2023).

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  • What are three things I’m grateful for today?
  • Write a letter to your future self. What do you want to tell them?
  • Write about a positive affirmation you want to start telling yourself.
  • How do you like to relax? Write about your favorite way to unwind.
  • What does “peace” look like to you? How can you bring more of it into your life?
  • What is something that always makes you laugh or brings you joy?

Self-Care / Self-Talk

Positive Self Talk

  • Positive affirmations are short, encouraging statements that can help build our self-esteem and challenge negative thoughts.
  • Repeating these statements daily can help foster a more loving relationship with yourself over time.
    • “Mirror-work” is when you look into the mirror and say kind, positive affirmations to yourself. It might feel awkward at first.
    • Try statements such as “I am enough,” “I am deserving of all the good things life has to offer,” or “I am strong, capable, and confident in everything I do.”
  • This can help build mental resilience, making it easier to cope with challenges and setbacks.
  • They can elevate your mood and promote a more optimistic view of life.
  • They help build confidence and self-worth by focusing on your strengths and capabilities.

Self Care

  • Self-care directly impacts emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
  • Engaging in regular self care practices helps maintain balance and resilience, ensuring we can cope with life’s challenges.
  • Regular self-care allows the body and mind to recover, recharge, and maintain a sense of calm.
  • Taking care of yourself helps prevent burnout by ensuring you have the energy and mental capacity to meet the demands of life.
    • Without regular self care, you may become overwhelmed, leading to fatigue, frustration, and decreased productivity.
  • Giving yourself mental space helps clear your mind, improving focus, decision-making, and problem-solving.
  • Allows you to engage in activities that bring you joy, pleasure, and fulfillment. These experiences elevate mood and provide moments of peace and happiness.

Positive Self Talk

Affirming personal values has been linked to boosting ones happiness and meaning in life (Nelson et al., 2014). MRI’s show that self- affirmations affect brain activity! (Cascio et al., 2015).

Self Care

“Engaging in a self- care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy and more. From a physical health perspective, it has also been clinically proven to reduce heart disease, stroke and cancer” (Glowiak, 2024).

Explore trusted resources and products to support your healing journey.

POSITIVE SELF TALK

 

SELF CARE

  • Up to personal preference, ideas listed in the guide
  • Sleep: Make sure you get enough hours in
  • Making time for hobbies: painting, gardening, etc.
  • Doing chores: cleaning dishes, doing laundry, cleaning space, decluttering
  • Spending time outdoors: taking nature walks, sitting in a park
  • Being with people you love: friends, family, partners
  • Reading or learning: something of interest, and limiting technology/screen time
  • Personal care: shower, bath, deep breathing, meditation, massaging
  • Treating yourself: occasionally indulging yourself with something you love (ex: buying a new book, or a coffee from your favorite shop)
  • Mental care: attending peer support groups (for free with ANAD!), going to therapy (we can help connect you with someone)