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