| Self starvation and excessive weight loss are | | | | etc…. |
| characteristics of the very serious eating disorder | | | | 3. Constant referral to feeling fat and overweight |
| called Anorexia Nervosa. This disease is life | | | | 4. Obsessive food regimen - rearranging food on a |
| threatening, affecting mostly girls (90-95%). Research | | | | plate, eating foods in a particular order and excessive |
| suggests that between 0.5-1% of the American | | | | chewing |
| female population are affected by this serious disease. | | | | 5. Making excuses to avoid eating meals |
| Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to | | | | 6. Excessive exercise regimen, feeling the need to |
| mid-adolescence and has one of the highest death | | | | "burn off" excess calories |
| rates of any mental health condition. Symptoms of | | | | 7. Withdrawal from peer groups and friends |
| Anorexia Nervosa include: | | | | 8. Generally, the person will ultimately focus only on |
| 1. A strict resistance to maintaining normal body weight | | | | weight loss, dieting type of information and nothing else. |
| 2. Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post | | | | There are very serious medical consequences for |
| puberty | | | | people with this disease because the body is being |
| 3. A fear of weight gain and perception of being | | | | denied the nutrients it needs to function normally and in |
| "fat" even though under weight | | | | the process is forced to slow down all of its |
| 4. A denial of the seriousness of loss of body weight. | | | | processes to conserve energy. Here are some of the |
| Unfortunately, 5-20% of individuals suffering from this | | | | problems that can occur: |
| eating disorder will die and so it is extremely important | | | | 1. Slow heart rate and low blood pressure which can |
| that early detection is supplemented with intensive | | | | lead ultimately to heart failure |
| treatment as experts report that chances of full | | | | 2. Risk of developing osteoporosis |
| recovery are greatly increased with this treatment. | | | | 3. Loss of muscle and overall weakness |
| With this in mind, here are some early warning signs | | | | 4. Kidney failure from dehydration |
| that may help you to assess whether a loved one | | | | 5. Dryness of the skin and hair, also hair loss is |
| may be showing signs of this terrible disease. | | | | common |
| 1. Serious weight loss | | | | 6. Development of a layer of hair all over the body |
| 2. A preoccupation with dieting, calories, weight | | | | called lanugo, in an effort to keep the body warm. |