Anorexia is a debilitating psycho-biological illness that affects body, mind and spirit.
More often, the cause of death for someone with anorexia is either from the physical complications of starvation or from suicide, and the studies show that the risks of death from anorexia increases the longer one has had the illness.
People with anorexia may:
• Sharply restricts her intake of food out of fear of gaining weight. Eat tiny portions, refuse to eat, and deny they are hungry.
• Extremely low body weight – a much as 15 percent or more of body weight or a large weight loss in a short time.
• Responding to demands of others rather than taking initiative in life
• Act hyperactive, depressed, moody or insecure
• Have an intense fear of being fat
• Paralyzing sense of powerlessness
• See themselves as fat, wanting to lose more weight, even when they are very thin
• Exercise excessively and compulsively
• Suffer from constipation or irregular menstrual periods
• Obsessive thoughts regarding body image and appearance, food, calories, meals or weight
• Complain of nausea or bloating after eating normal amounts of food
• Binge-eat, then purge, perhaps by vomiting or using laxatives or diuretics
Stubbornness and irony are characteristics of anorexia. They are likely to defend their emaciated appearance as normal and will insist that weight gain makes them feel fat.
Anorexia affects literally every major body system:
*Cardiovascular system
*Digestive system
*Endocrine
*Immune system
*Skin, hair and nails
*Nervous system
Risk
and Signs of Anorexia
