How to Identify Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of becoming fat. A person afflicted with anorexia maintains an ongoing pattern of self-starvation and a preoccupation with food and losing weight. It is estimated that 10 percent of all anorexia cases are fatal. If you notice the following symptoms in a loved one, you will want to seek professional help for this person.

Instructions

1. Notice whether the person is losing weight quickly. Anorexics lose at least 25 percent of their body weight. The most common times for the onset of anorexia are during puberty and when a person enters college.

2. Observe whether the person eats. Does she actually consume the food on her plate, or is she more apt to cut it into small pieces and push it around? Has the person stopped going out to eat with friends? If she does go out to eat, does she often not order anything, claiming that she is not hungry or has already eaten?

3. Observe whether the person is fasting excessively. Fasting is often used as a sort of cleansing process, but excessive fasting can indicate a more serious eating problem.

4. Is the person constantly exercising? Does she explicitly state what the exercise is for - for example, saying, "I have to go work off the bagel I just ate"?

5. Listen for high levels of body dissatisfaction despite weight loss. Anorexics never think they are thin enough and will often change their weight loss goals after reaching an initial goal. They also weigh themselves frequently.

6. Observe whether the person experiences lack of concentration and/or confused thinking. People need energy from food to think, and when an anorexic deprives herself of energy, her thinking becomes slower and more clouded.

7. Observe whether the person complains of dizziness and/or experiences fainting spells. Without the intake of food, an anorexic will be fatigued and have a low glucose level, and may not have enough energy to engage in normal day-to-day activities. On the other hand, some anorexics are able to exercise excessively despite their very low caloric intake.

8. Notice a change in hair growth. A malnourished person will lose hair on her scalp and will also grow an extra layer of thin hair on her body to help her stay warm.

9. Notice if the person often complains of cold or wears an unusual amount of clothing for warm weather. Without the insulating layer of adipose (fatty) tissue, an anorexic will need extra clothing to stay warm. Also, wearing extra-baggy clothing can hide extreme weight loss from concerned friends and family.

Tips & Warnings

• Many anorexics will deny that they have a problem and will try to hide their eating disorder symptoms. The first step in recovery is acknowledging the eating problem, which is usually met with high resistance. Do not be deceived by excuses, no matter how good they sound.

• Ask for support and help for both you and the person you are concerned about. Your job is to care, not to cure. See "Support Someone With Anorexia" and "Find Help for Someone With Anorexia," under Related eHows.

• Anorexia is not a stage that people pass through easily. Anorexia is a disease with a high fatality rate. If you believe that a loved one is suffering from some of the symptoms of anorexia, please seek professional help for this person.

• If symptoms persist or if you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.