Mental Health

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which people intentionally starve themselves. It causes extreme weight loss, which the National Institute of Mental Health defines as at least 15 percent below the individual's normal body weight.

Food and weight become obsessions. Compulsiveness may cause strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front of others. It is not uncommon for people with anorexia to collect recipes and prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends, but not partake in the meals themselves. They may also adhere to strict exercise routines to keep off weight.

Side effects are many and may include a loss of monthly menstrual periods in women with the disorder, and men with anorexia often become impotent.

Who suffers from anorexia nervosa?

The disorder most often begins in young people, around the time of puberty. Approximately 1 percent of adolescent girls develop anorexia nervosa. Many who suffer from the disorder look emaciated, but remain convinced they are overweight. Sometimes they must be hospitalized to prevent starvation.

Eventually, half of those with anorexia will develop bulimia.

Medical complications can frequently be a result of eating disorders, particularly for individuals who use drugs to stimulate vomiting, bowel movements, or urination. These practices impose considerable danger, as they increase the risk of heart failure.

What are medical complications associated with anorexia nervosa?

damage to vital organs such as the heart and brain
monthly menstrual periods stop
breathing, pulse, and blood pressure rates drop
thyroid function slows
nails and hair become brittle
skin dries, yellows, and becomes covered with soft hair called lanugo
excessive thirst and frequent urination may occur
dehydration causes constipation
reduced body fat leads to lowered body temperature and the inability to withstand cold
mild anemia
swollen joints
reduced muscle mass
light-headedness
bones may become brittle and prone to breakage
irregular heart rhythms and heart failure may occur
personality changes may occur
other psychiatric illnesses may occur:
- clinical depression
- anxiety
- personality disorder
- substance abuse disorders
- at risk for suicide
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), an illness characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors
- compliant personality but with sudden outbursts of hostility and anger
- may become socially withdrawn

What are some common characteristics of persons with anorexia nervosa?

Most people with eating disorders share certain personality traits and use abnormal eating rituals as a means of handling stress and anxiety. These personality traits often include, but are not limited to:

low self-esteem
feelings of helplessness
fear of becoming fat

People with anorexia nervosa:

rarely disobey
often keep their feelings to themselves
tend to be perfectionists, good students, and excellent athletes

People with anorexia usually follow the wishes of others, and have not learned how to cope with the problems typical of adolescence, growing up, and becoming independent. It is believed that they restrict food -- particularly carbohydrates -- to gain a sense of control in some/one area of their lives. Controlling their weight appears to offer two advantages:

taking control of their bodies
gaining approval from others

This page was last updated on: February 5, 2008.

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