Anorexia Symptoms & Signs of Anorexia

by Melisa Steele

Before we take a look at anorexia symptoms and the signs of anorexia, let’s just look at some of the health problems it can be caused by anorexia over time:

Blood Disorders
Heart Disease and Heart Failure
Osteoporosis (brittle bones that break easily)
Nerve Damage
Digestive Problems
Imbalance of Minerals
Dehydration
Infertility

And left untreated anorexia can cause death, either from severe weight loss or suicide. Below is a list of anorexia symptoms and the signs of anorexia:

Dramatic weight loss in a short period of time
Obsession with weight, exercise and / or with the content of calories and fat in food
Obsession with what others eat
Visible food restriction and self-starvation
Playing around food on the plate or cutting the food in to small pieces
Trying to hide body shape by wearing big or baggy clothes
Frequent trips to the bathroom immediately following meals
Hiding the use of diet pills or laxatives
Dizziness and headaches
Mood swings
Depression, fatigue and poor sleeping habits
Secretive eating patterns and / or fear of eating around others
Hiding food in strange places to avoid eating or flushing uneaten food down the toilet
Hair loss and/or skin that appears pale
Difficulty Concentrating
Fatigue
Frequent sore throats and/or swollen glands
Perfectionism
Distorted body image
Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. Often putting themselves down and complaining of being “too stupid” or “too fat” and saying they don’t matter.
Need for acceptance and approval from others
Low blood pressure.
Feeling cold all the time
Loss of menstrual cycle.