Anorexia Symptoms

They may appear sickly and what some may consider too thin. However, anorexia affects people of all body shapes and sizes and can occur in individuals of higher weight. It is not always possible to recognize that someone has anorexia simply by looking at them. 

There is a range of physical, psychological, and behavioral signs and symptoms to watch out for that can help pinpoint whether the disorder is present.

Physical Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia

Someone with anorexia will often become malnourished, as they are not getting the proper nutrients or number of calories needed to sustain body functions. 

Some of the physical symptoms of anorexia can include:⁴

• Very low body weight (and low body mass index)
• Poor nutritional status
• Dehydration
• Stomach pain or bloating
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to cold temperatures
• Fine, downy body hair (lanugo)
• Thinning hair
• Dry or yellowish skin
• Brittle nails
• Infertility

Severely limiting food intake can lead to various medical complications and harm to physical health. Serious illness can occur if someone with anorexia nervosa does not receive proper treatment.

Psychological & Behavioral Signs of Anorexia

People with anorexia tend to lose more weight than is sustainable to maintain healthy body functions. They often diet or exercise excessively to lose weight and maintain a low weight. But some people with anorexia are in higher weight bodies to start with and may lose weight but not maintain a low weight.

Someone with anorexia is commonly extremely focused on body image. They have difficulty recognizing the serious consequences of extreme weight loss, and they refuse to keep their weight at a sustainable level for the body to function properly. They also often have a distorted view of what they consider to be a “healthy” weight or “healthy” eating habits.

Some of the behavioral symptoms of anorexia are:^2,4

• Obsession with food, food preparation, and calorie intake
• Unusual eating habits, such as pushing food around their plate or cutting food into small pieces
• Excessive exercising, even when the schedule is tight or the weather is bad
• Missing meals
• Refusing to eat around other people
• Vomiting after eating
• Taking appetite suppressants or “diet” pills
• Food restrictions
• Dressing in layers to hide body shape
• Making excuses not to eat
• Cooking for others and not eating
• Trips to the bathroom after eating, often to throw up

Psychological or emotional symptoms of anorexia can include:^2,4

• Depression
• Social withdrawal and isolation
• Changed body image
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in sex
• Distorted body image, such as “feeling” fat even if not
• Low self-esteem
• Lack of self-confidence and low self-worth
• Extreme fear of being fat
• Inflexible thinking patterns
• Strong need for control

When to Get Treatment

More than one person dies every hour from an eating disorder.³ It’s just one of many mental health conditions that can cause a host of emotional, physical, and behavioral issues that need to be addressed. 

If you have a negative view of your body, feel that you are fat, fear gaining weight, or have any other anorexia symptoms listed above, it is time to get professional treatment. In some cases, you may not have anorexia nervosa, but other eating disorders have similar symptoms, and you may be more prone to develop eating disorders.

A professional treatment program for anorexia can help you to have a more positive relationship with food and a healthier self-image. With a specialized treatment program, you can receive medical treatment, mental health support, nutrition education, and behavioral therapies. 

It is important to start treatment as early as possible to limit the negative consequences of severe weight restriction and malnutrition. Serious mental disorders like anorexia should not be ignored, as they can be life-threatening and lead to severe mental health complications. The first step is often the hardest. But with help, you can attain long-term recovery.