Signs of Anorexia
How do you know if your best friend, daughter, or another loved one is suffering from anorexia? Anorexia can sometimes be a difficult condition to spot because it is often accompanied by other symptoms. For instance, anorexia is often accompanied by feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression. A person may seem to be going through a slump, but secretly they are struggling with something much more serious. So how can you tell if someone you love is harboring a dangerous secret?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that is most commonly diagnosed among young women, although anyone can be affected. A person suffering from anorexia suffers from an overriding fear of gaining weight. He or she will limit the amount of food they eat in order to avoid weight gain. Anorexia is marked by an obsessive and unhealthy relationship with food and body image. People with anorexia have a low body weight. Their weight may be below their normal body weight. They may harbor a strong fear of gaining weight or becoming obese. Many anorexia patients may have a distorted body image. They may believe they are overweight, despite actually being very thin. The person may seem obsessed with their body weight and image. They may become fatigued rather easily and complain of headaches or lightheadedness. Someone with anorexia may also get sick frequently, either from colds, fevers, digestive problems or other common ailments. Their immune system falters under the lack of proper nutrition.
Many anorexia patients manifest a compromised or unhealthy relationship with food. They may complain of frequent digestive problems. They often have trouble eating or finishing meals. They may pick at their food and avoid social gatherings where large amounts or varieties of food are present. Some anorexia patients manifest physical characteristics. For instance, they may appear unnaturally thin, pale, or generally unhealthy. They may experience rapid weight loss. Their hair may become thin and limp, and their eyes often appear dull. They can experience extreme mood swings, or generally appear depressed or anxious. They may become reclusive and avoid social gatherings. A once happy, enthusiastic and outgoing personality may become depressed, negative, or obsessive with the onset of the eating disorder.
Other clues that your loved one suffers from anorexia includes their use of diet pills. Some people with anorexia may take over the counter pills to induce bowel movements and urination. They may take diet pills to suppress their appetite. They may take part in an obsessive exercise routine. They may wear loose or baggy clothing to hide their appearance. Sometimes the person may avoid eating in front of others.
If you suspect someone you love may be suffering from anorexia, let him or her know how you feel. Approach them in a non-confrontational and sympathetic way. Tell them you love them and are worried about their health. Make every effort that your friend seeks counseling and medical attention immediately, as anorexia is a serious medical condition that can lead to numerous health complications and problems, and even death.
Eating disorder news on the Web
Food Cravings Reduced By Lizard Saliva
A drug made from the saliva of the Gila monster lizard is effective in reducing the craving for food. Researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, have tested the drug on rats, who after treatment ceased their cravings for both food and chocolate... |
Differences Seen In Brain Circuitry Between Women With Anorexia And Those With Obesity
Why does one person become anorexic and another obese? A study recently published by a University of Colorado School of Medicine researcher shows that reward circuits in the brain are sensitized in anorexic women and desensitized in obese women. The findings also suggest that eating behavior is related to brain dopamine pathways involved in addictions... |
Study Identifies Five Factors That Promote A Positive Body Image In Women
Women with high family support and limited pressure to achieve the 'thin and beautiful' ideal have a more positive body image. That's according to a new study looking at five factors that may help young women to be more positive about their bodies, in the context of a society where discontent with appearance is common among women. The work by Dr... |
Possible Link Discovered Between The Hormone Ghrelin And Hedonic Eating
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Addiction-Like Behaviors Can Stem From Binge Eating
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Key Events Can Trigger Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can be triggered by lack of support following traumatic events such as bereavement, relationship problems, abuse and sexual assault, according to research published in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Even changing school or moving home can prove too much for some young people and lead to conditions such as anorexia or bulimia... |
Our Brains On Food: From Anorexia To Obesity And Everything In Between
The brains of people with anorexia and obesity are wired differently, according to new research. Neuroscientists for the first time have found that how our brains respond to food differs across a spectrum of eating behaviors - from extreme overeating to food deprivation. This study is one of several new approaches to help better understand and ultimately treat eating disorders and obesity... |
Super-Thin Models Banned From Catwalks And Ads, Israel
The Israeli parliament has passed a new law which prohibits clinically underweight models from appearing in advertisements and catwalks. Lawmakers believe the presence of super-skinny models in the media and fashion parades encourages eating disorders and promotes unrealistic and unhealthy body image goals... |
How A Single Gene Mutation Leads To Uncontrolled Obesity
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have revealed how a mutation in a single gene is responsible for the inability of neurons to effectively pass along appetite suppressing signals from the body to the right place in the brain. What results is obesity caused by a voracious appetite... |
Eating Disorders Cause Severe Dental Erosion
It is estimated that about 1.1 million men and women in the UK suffer from eating disorders, with the dark figure thought to be even higher, considering that many more keep their problem a secret. A study by the University of Bergen in Norway, showed that patients who suffer from eating disorders, such as Anorexia and Bulimia, experienced substantially more dental health problems... |
Prader-Willi Syndrome - Challenge To Stop Over-Eating In Children
A Challenge to find new research methods for hyperphagia, or unregulated appetite, a condition prevalent in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) - a genetic disorder of chromosome 15, has been announced by InnoCentive. Inc., and the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research. Around 6,500 children are born with the genetic disorder each year... |
Colorful Plates Boost A Picky Eater's Appetite
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Experts Urge BMI Method For Calculating Weight In Kids With Eating Disorders
An exact determination of expected body weight for adolescents based on age, height and gender is critical for diagnosis and management of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. However, there are no clear guidelines regarding the appropriate method for calculating this weight in children with such disorders. In a study published online Jan... |
Binge Eating And Depression Often Linked In Teenage Girls
After carrying out a US-wide study, researchers report that depressed adolescent girls are two times more likely to begin binge eating as girls who are not depressed. In addition, girls who regularly binge-eat are twice as likely to develop symptoms of depression. The findings indicate that adolescent girls who show signs of either binge-eating or depression should be screened for both disorders... |
Anorexia Recommendations Challenged
According to researchers at UCSF, adolescents who are hospitalized with anorexia nervosa do not gain considerable weight during their initial week in hospital by receiving treatment based on current guidelines for refeeding. The study is published in the January issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health with an associated report... |
New Approach To Management Of Overeating In Children
Overeating, whether in children or adults, often takes place even in the absence of hunger, resulting in weight gain and obesity. Current methods to treat such overeating in youth focus on therapies that restrict what kids may eat, requiring them to track their food intake and engage in intensive exercise... |
Overweight Women Trained In Stress Reduction And Mindful Eating To Curb Weight Gain
Many dread gaining weight during the holiday season, but there may be hope for those who find that stress causes them to reach for yet another helping of holiday goodies. In a study by UCSF researchers published online in the Journal of Obesity, mastering simple mindful eating and stress-reduction techniques helped prevent weight gain even without dieting... |
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