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Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that affects a person’s relationship with food, body image, and weight. People with anorexia often eat much less than their body needs, avoid certain foods, or feel intense pressure to stay at or reach a very low weight. Some may also exercise in rigid or extreme ways, purge (vomit), or have episodes of binge eating.

Anyone can develop anorexia — children, teens, adults, people of any gender, and people across all races and backgrounds. Anorexia nervosa does not look the same for everyone, and you cannot tell whether someone is struggling solely based on size or appearance.

Although anorexia most commonly begins in adolescence, it can appear earlier in childhood or later in adulthood.

Eating disorders are not a choice or a phase. They are complex medical and mental health conditions that deserves care, compassion, and timely treatment.

  • People experience anorexia in different ways, and not everyone will show the same signs. These symptoms can be emotional, behavioral, or physical.

    Emotional & Behavioral Signs

    • Noticeable weight changes or difficulty maintaining weight

    • Feeling distressed or dissatisfied with body shape or size

    • Wearing layers of clothing to hide weight changes or stay warm

    • Strong focus on food, calories, dieting, or “good/bad” foods

    • Cutting out entire food groups

    • Frequent comments about feeling “fat” despite weight loss

    • Intense fear of gaining weight

    • Digestive discomfort (constipation, stomach pain, bloating)

    • Saying they’re not hungry or avoiding eating with others

    • Rigid food rituals (cutting food into tiny pieces, chewing excessively, rearranging food)

    • Drinking large amounts of water, diet drinks, or caffeine

    • Preparing food for others but not eating themselves

    • Avoiding meals or situations involving food

    • Feeling the need to “make up for” eating

    • Exercising in ways that are strict, excessive, or continue despite illness or injury

    • Withdrawing from friends and activities

    • Difficulty with changes in routine or flexible thinking

    • Struggling to maintain a weight appropriate for their age and height

    Physical Signs

    • Digestive issues such as constipation or acid reflux

    • Trouble concentrating

    • Abnormal lab results (such as anemia, low potassium, or slow heart rate) — though labs can also appear normal

    • Dizziness or fainting

    • Feeling cold often

    • Trouble sleeping

    • Irregular or absent menstrual periods

    • Dental problems if purging is present

    • Dry skin, brittle nails, or hair loss

    • Swelling around the jaw or salivary glands

    • Fine, soft body hair (lanugo)

    • Muscle weakness

    • Yellowish skin tone from eating large amounts of certain foods

    • Cold or swollen hands and feet

    • Slow healing wounds

    These symptoms can be subtle or severe. If you recognize several of them — in yourself or someone else — it’s important to reach out for support.

  • A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is made by a qualified medical or mental health professional. In general, the diagnosis involves:

    • Eating much less than the body needs, leading to a significantly low weight for age, height, or overall health

    • A strong fear of gaining weight or becoming “fat,” even when underweight

    • Distorted body image or an inaccurate sense of one’s weight or shape

    It’s important to know that someone can still have a serious eating disorder without being underweight.

    Atypical anorexia includes people who meet the psychological and behavioral criteria for anorexia but are not medically underweight. People with atypical anorexia can experience health risks and emotional distress that are just as severe.

  • Anorexia nervosa is treatable, and recovery is possible — but it requires support from trained professionals. Treatment often involves a team that may include a medical doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, and dietitian who specialize in eating disorders.

    Early intervention can make a meaningful difference. Because anorexia can affect both physical health and emotional well-being, reaching out for help as soon as possible is essential. With the right care, guidance, and support, many people are able to rebuild a healthier relationship with food, their body, and themselves.

  • Anorexia Nervosa – National Eating Disorders Association