What are the warning signs of anorexia?
602518
Becoming obsessed with everything that goes into her mouth. Knowing every calorie in every food known to man. \nAvoiding any social situation that involves eating.\nPushing food around on her plate pretending she's eating.\nSaying she already ate or she'll eat later.\nTelling everyone she' fine and feels great.\nHair falling out.\nShe doesn't get her period every month or at all anymore.\nHer skin starts to look different, not as healthy.\nShe bruises easily.\nNot sleeping well.\nShe's always cold.\nSometimes anorexics may grow light hair on their face because their body is trying to keep itself warm.
534080
I used to have the same problem too, but as I've gotten older, I have been once mistaken to be pregnant, but I swear I'm not! Haha. Anyway, I looked up what you're asking and here it is. I hope it helps.\n\n\nA person who has anorexia severely limits the amount of food he or she eats, has an intense fear of gaining weight, and can become dangerously thin. Severe or long-term anorexia can lead to starvation, serious health problems, and even death. \n\nAnorexia is not dieting. It may start as dieting, but it grows beyond your control. Anorexia is also linked to anxiety and an intense fear of gaining weight.\n\nCommon feelings and actions that are linked to anorexia include:\n\n1. Having an intense fear of gaining weight. \n2. Restricting food or types of food, such as food that contains any kind of fat or sugar. \n3. Weighing less than 85% of your expected body weight. (In a child or teen, losing or not gaining weight during a growth spurt is a concern.) \n4. Seeing your body as overweight, even though you are underweight. \n5. Overexercising. \n6. Being secretive around food and not seeing or wanting to talk about having a problem with eating. \n\nCommon signs of malnutrition from anorexia include:\n\nA low body weight. \nConstipation and slow emptying of the stomach. \nThinning hair, dry skin, and brittle nails. \nShrunken breasts. \nStopping or never getting a monthly menstrual period. \nFeeling cold, with a lower-than-normal body temperature. \nLow blood pressure. \nA slow heartbeat (fewer than 60 beats per minute). \nNot feeling pain as you normally would. \nPurplish skin color on the arms and legs from poor blood circulation. \nSwollen feet and hands. \nYellow-orange skin, especially on the palms of the hands. \nSome people who have anorexia also make themselves vomit (purging). Breakdown of the enamel on the teeth is a common symptom of ongoing or regular vomiting.\n\nHow common is anorexia?\n\nAnorexia affects less than 1% of the general population. Of that group, 90% are female. Anorexia usually begins during the teen years, but it can develop in early childhood. A few cases first occur in adulthood. It happens in people of all races, although white females are most often affected. Young people who are in sports or in work that requires a certain body type (such as wrestling, ballet, or modeling) are also at increased risk for developing anorexia.
75528
sweetheart there are a lot of them out there, but for your own sake don't go looking. Most anorexic or bulemic people would tell you that they hate being that way and would give anything to just be able to eat normally and not freak out over an extra pound or two. Please, for the sake of your life and the ones who love you, see about getting some help on this. You are not alone and it is nothing to be ashamed of, but dont encourage it in yourself!
740669
because anorexia and bullemia are serious eating disorders, it's a mental problem that they have and also known as diseases. If things are going bad in their life and they dont like their weight and obsess over it, they feel as if food is one of the things they are able to control in their lives. Just like alcoholism - it's hard for them to stop even if they want to.
459309
There is something very wrong, with you if you WANT to become anorexic....anorexia is a very serious disease in which you can die from. Once anorexic it will take over your entire life, and you will lose yourself within this disease. I think you wanting to be skinny is the least of your worries you have major issues with your self-esteem to deal with first. I currently have a friend right now suffering from this disease and I KNOW for a fact that she would'nt wish this illness on anyone in the world, not even her own worst enemy. I am sure you have many people in your life who love and care for you and would not want to see this illness take over your life. Anorexia is a serious, serious, condition, I pray that you will not think such things anymore! Remember that you are beautiful just the way you are and if you are truly not happy with the way you look, then I suggest you cut back on calories and work out at a normal routine.
50949
Ask yourself these questions:\n1. Are you exercising constantly?\n2. Do you weigh yourself every day?\n3. Are you refusing to eat?\n4. Do you see yourself as fat when you look in the mirror?\n\nIf you answer yes to all 4 questions, then you might be anorexic and need to get the help of a therapist.  Anorexia nervosa is a nasty condition.  If you do get it, you will have it for the rest of your life.  You can get it under control but it will always be with you and can creep up at any time.  You will have to learn how to get and keep it under control at all times.  Food is not your enemy.
808854
Anorexia Nervosa, Bullemia, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Staying in Abusive relationships etc.
930422
NO!\nThis is a common misconception, but in order to be classified as anorexic, you MUST be underweight.\nAnorexia is different from just self-starvation, and in order to be clinically diagnosed with anorexia, you MUST have the following symptoms.\n-low body weight (less than 85 percent of normal weight for height and age)\n-a distorted body image\n-an intense fear of gaining weight.\n\nIf you don't have all of those, then it is NOT anorexia nervosa.\nThere are other conditions that are commonly misinterpreted and referred to as anorexia, but these are not technically anorexia without the above symptoms.\nHopefully that cleared it up for you!
218059
Anorexia Nervosa is a mental disorder in which the person has a fear of becoming fat and takes measures to reduce his or her body mass index (BMI) to 17.5 or under.  Emaciation, in a technical sense, occurs when someone's BMI falls below 15.0.  People with anorexia nervosa may become emaciated, but emaciation can result from other circumstances as well, such as disease or famine.\n\nOn a side note, the term "anorexia" is different from "anorexia nervosa."  Anorexia literally means loss of appetite, so a doctor may say someone is experiencing anorexia as a symptom.  Anorexia nervosa is the actual psychological disorder, although it's translation "nervous loss of appetite" is truly a misnomer.  Most anorectics (people with anorexia nervosa, also written anoretics) are actually hungry most of the time, and spend a great deal of time and energy planning what they are allowed to eat or not eat.
543302
One of my friends used to be anorexic. She went to the doctor one day for headaches and come to find out, she had a brain tumor because of it. If you are still in school, go to the guidance counselor or talk to her parents. Definitely not healthy.
727444
(m)\n\nbeing very thirsty \nurinating a lot \nfeeling very hungry \nfeeling very tired \nlosing weight without trying \nhaving sores that are slow to heal \nhaving dry, itchy skin \nlosing feeling in or having tingling in the hands or feet \nhaving blurry vision \nhaving more infections than usual
586127
changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little) \nsignificant weight gain or loss \nmissed school, poor school performance and/or a sudden decline in grades \nwithdrawal from friends and family \nno longer enjoying activities that were once pleasurable \nindecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness \nfeelings of worthlessness or guilt \noverreaction to criticism, irritability \nfeeling that nothing is worth the effort \nfrequent health complaints when no physical ailment exists \nanger, rage, anxiety \nlack of enthusiasm and motivation \ndrug/alcohol abuse, thoughts of death or suicide \nSymptoms such as insomnia, panic attacks, delusions or hallucinations can indicate extreme depression, \nThe first problem is to distinguish between a more serious depression and "normal," typical adolescent moodiness, caused by hormonal changes and brain growth spurts. For example, it is common for girls to become moody, edgy, and anxious just before and during menstruation, and maybe even longer, if she suffers from hormonal problems. If grouchy behavior seems to have a pattern or cycle, it is likely the symptoms are tied to hormonal changes, and are not indicative of clinical depression. In contrast, one hallmark of clinical depression is the tendency to become isolated—to stop talking to family, and to stop spending time with friends—and this kind of moodiness does not seem to lift after a couple of weeks. \n\nRushing to a therapist when symptoms are actually within the range of normal can have several negative effects:\n\nthe child feels like there must be something wrong with himself or herself, which can tip a fragile balance toward lowered self-esteem \nthere may be a long-lasting stigma attached to a diagnosis \nmedications may be prescribed unnecessarily, and without careful monitoring \nIf you suspect depression:\n\nRespond with love, kindness, and support. \nRepeatedly let your child know that you are there, whenever she or he needs you \nBe gentle but persistent if your adolescent shuts you out (depressed teenagers do not want to feel patronized or crowded). Do not ask a lot of questions, but make known your concern and your willingness to listen. \nDo not criticize or pass judgment once the adolescent begins to talk (the important thing is that he or she is talking and communicating feelings). \nEncourage activity and praise efforts to socialize and be active. \nSeek help from a doctor or mental health professional if the adolescent's depressed feeling doesn't pass with time. Be prepared to list behaviors, note how long and how often they have been occurring, and how severe they seem. \nDo not wait and hope that symptoms will go away on their own. When depression is severe—if adolescents are thinking about hurting themselves or about suicide—seek professional help as soon as possible. \nParents of depressed adolescents may themselves need support. Seek out groups of parents who have experience with teen depression. \nThe single most important thing a parent can do to break down the social isolation that is at the heart of adolescent problems is to LISTEN:\n\nlisten when your children talk \nlisten to their music \nspend more time with them and be involved in their activities \ntake them to movies and concerts, and discuss them afterward \nknow their friends, and listen to them as well \ndo not lecture or offer unsolicited advice or ultimatums \ndo not try to talk them out of their feelings or solve their problems, just acknowledge the pain and sadness they are feeling \ndo not compare your teen’s feelings, reactions or experiences to your own or to someone else’s \nA parent can—and should—express their concerns directly. It is not easy to connect with teens in this way, and parents may need professional guidance to assist them. Yes, it is likely that the teenager will get angry and will say harsh things ("It's none of your business!" "G
736154
If it is a friend of yours, there are some signe you should look out for.  Yellowing/brownish tinted teeth, or losing enamel.  Look for laxatives and water pills.  Bad breath is  big giveaway (not just bad, but raunchy).  If they disappear soon after meals, and you hear water running for a long time, nose blowing and tooth brushing, they might be trying to hide their vomiting.  Sometimes they exercise excessively, ritualistically, and constantly.  Sometimes they play games with food, like a lot of pushing it around on the plate, hesitating, procrastinating, cutting it up into a million little pieces, chewing a certain amount of times, taking a limited number of bites, doing a lot of picking and separating, etc.  Sometimes they stuff everything in sight and rarely come up for air, then disappear for about 15 minutes and do it again.  Extreme cases are when bones start to show through thier clothes (especially their spine, it looks as if it were on the exterior of their back).  Sometimes they grow peach fuzz all over their body and face.  Sometimes they lose their ability to menstruate.  Their faces start to look gaunt, less feminine, sunken eyes, and knobby knees.  Sometimes their index and middle fingers are stained.  Sometimes they are weak and shaky.  Sometimes when ou pinch their skin, it stays wrinkled for a while, if they are really dehydrated.  Sometimes their hair begins to thin out.  When a person starves, their body first starts to lose excess muscle tone, their metabolism slows down, and then they start to lose fat.  Then their hormones start to get messed up and then their potassium levels.  Systems start to experience difficulty, and eventually shut down.\n\nAnorexics starve themselves, and often throw up the litte they do eat. It's a bog power trip that has little to do with food, though it starts out that way.  It is based on displaced anxiety and contol issues.\n\nBulemia is when people starve for a while, then lose it and binge all that they can, and feel guilty and throw it all up.  They often repeat this process several times.  This doesn't get rid of weight faster than anorexia, but it can be more dangerous.  They are repeatedly bringing up chemicals and acids from their stomach (which has mucous linings to protect it) to their esophagus and throat, which burns it and burns off tooth enamel.  But the most dangerous part if that they can upset their potassium level so much that it can cause their heart to stop.  \n\nTerry Shaivo (on the news, feeding tube fiasco, chronic vegetative state) was bulemic, and vomited so much her heart stopped. She was found in time and saved, but in a permanent vegitative state due to severe brain damage.  \n\nBoth of these start out with weight and food issues, but those are the outlets for their extreme control issues and anxiety issues.  It's a power trip for them to regulate their body functions.\n\nIn most cases, they require an intervention, and professional counseling. It may take a long time to reprogram their coping skills, and internal dialogue.  Many overcome the disorder and reach out to others to help them by sharing their own experience, and this is a way to reinforce what they have learned and a way to maintain the new way they choose to live.  Overcoming an eating disorder is like overcoming cocaine addiction.  It is that powerful and life-altering.
630850
Have him come over to your house. Before you do this google picture and all these articles on anorexia and all the problems that is can cause including the long term effect--DEATH! After you do this have him come over and have a serious talk with him and say that you are worried about him.  Show him all the research and talk with him.\n\nIf this doesn't work, then you need to tell someone because he is hurting him self.  Maybe like a school couslner, mom/ dad, girlfriend of his, anyone that will have a bigger influence on him them you.\n\nI know this must be hard. But remember you can only help so much. He has to want to change to.  Good Luck
1031674
yes! look at the starving children in africa. they're experiencing a forced anorexia
490450
when i was 15 i had anorexia.  you eventually dont realize that you need to eat.  i wont say you lose the hunger feeling because it is replaced by other pains, but you just forget.
749435
Check this site out from the BBC\n\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/mental_health/disorders_eating.shtml