Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia affects approximately 60,000 to 200,000 people, and it’s estimated that 1% of people aged between 10 and 20 suffer from anorexia each year. The condition can be characterised by an obsession with weight loss resulting in refusal to eat or irregularity in eating patterns. Sufferers become obsessive about eating rituals and develop an unusual way of eating, e.g. skipping meals and avoiding certain food, selecting a small variety of foods and only eating them in very small quantities. This is all usually done secretly.
Symptoms of Anorexia
- Extreme body weight loss results from malnutrition
- Absence of menstruation in women
- Lack of testosterone in men
- Extreme tiredness and weakness
- Irritability and depression
- Hair loss on the head or excessive fine bodily hair growth
- Dry skin
- Feeling guilty
- Bloating and constipation
- More sensitive to bruising
Long Term Effects of Anorexia
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Anaemia
- Heart problems or low heart rate
- Poor blood circulation
- Kidney failure
- Death