| Anorexia is considered to be a serious | | | | anorexia isolate themselves from the world, |
| illness that can even lead to death. Anorexia | | | | fearing that they won't be understood by |
| symptoms should be identified quickly in | | | | other people. Although they usually refuse |
| order to stop it from causing further damage | | | | any kind of social interaction, deep inside |
| to affected persons. Anorexia symptoms are | | | | they long for acceptance and guidance. |
| usually easy to notice, as the disorder | | | | Anorexics experience considerable drops of |
| causes both physical and psychical changes. | | | | self-esteem and self-respect and develop |
| Once anorexia symptoms are confirmed, the | | | | feelings of unworthiness. They often complain |
| patient needs to follow an appropriate | | | | about their physical appearance, always |
| treatment, involving therapy and a period of | | | | considering themselves to be fat. |
| physical recovery. | | | | |
| | | | Women and girls who suffer from anorexia |
| The most important anorexia symptoms are | | | | experience hormonal imbalances. Due to the |
| dramatic changes in physical appearance | | | | lack of vital nutrients, their bodies produce |
| caused by inappropriate eating (usually | | | | less estrogen than usual, causing irregular |
| people who suffer from anorexia have a lower | | | | menstruation. Sometimes menstrual periods |
| body weight than the average), obsession with | | | | even stop completely in the case of female |
| body weight, calories, food and exercise, the | | | | anorexics that indulge in abstinence from |
| refuse of eating normal amounts of food, | | | | food. Anorexia also affects the fertility of |
| irregular meals, attempts of replacing food | | | | women and girls, reducing their chances of |
| with coffee, caffeine-based beverages and | | | | remaining pregnant. Hormonal imbalances also |
| diet pills, unusual eating habits and rituals | | | | cause bone deterioration, leading to |
| (playing with food, avoiding to swallow food | | | | osteoporosis. Women and girls with anorexia |
| or throwing it away). | | | | have weak bones, teeth problems and fragile |
| | | | fingernails. |
| People with anorexia have a strong will and | | | | |
| keep drastic diets in order to lose weight. | | | | Other anorexia symptoms are low blood |
| Some of them eat less food than their bodies | | | | pressure, irregular heart activity, low body |
| require and often even refuse to eat at all. | | | | temperature due to bad circulation of the |
| There are moments when anorexics eat large | | | | blood, muscular rigidity and abdominal |
| quantities of food during a single meal, only | | | | cramps. |
| to later purge it out of their system by | | | | |
| vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics. | | | | People who suffer from anorexia or other |
| | | | eating disorders expose themselves to a lot |
| An interesting aspect in the behavior of | | | | of dangers. Inappropriate eating and |
| people with anorexia is the distorted | | | | exhausting physical exercises seriously |
| perception of their own bodies. Even if they | | | | weaken the immune system of persons with |
| are actually underweight, anorexics still | | | | anorexia, making them vulnerable to many |
| consider themselves to be fat. Also, they are | | | | diseases. It is very important to spot the |
| never content with how much weight they lose, | | | | signs of anorexia before it is too late. |
| always trying to become thinner. | | | | Although anorexics deny having a problem, |
| | | | they should be aware of the dangers they |
| Anorexia symptoms include dizziness, lack of | | | | expose themselves to and they should be |
| concentration, migraines, irritability, | | | | provided with advice, help and support in |
| anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, nightmares, | | | | order to overcome their illness. |
| depression and loneliness. Persons with | | | | |