Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which people overly focus on their weight, shape or what they eat. This can lead to body weight below what’s normal for their height and age, often through dietary restriction or excessive exercise.
Anorexia nervosa signs and symptoms include:
- Overly focusing on weight, shape and eating
- Eating smaller portions, refusing to eat, eliminating previously accepted foods
- Intense fear of being or becoming fat
- Feeling fat
- Disordered eating habits
- Exercising too much
- Depression and low self-esteem
- Withdrawing from family or friends
- Perfectionism
Medically, anorexia nervosa can include or be associated with:
- Weight loss, stomachaches, headaches, dizziness, fainting
- Feeling cold much of the time
- Constipation
- Loss of muscles
- Loss of menstrual periods
- Weakening of bones
- Heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature below normal
- Dehydration
- Brittle hair and nails, hair loss
Anorexia nervosa treatment
At Children’s Minnesota, we use anorexia nervosa treatments that are supported by medical studies. Treatment sessions may focus on discussing eating habits, relationships with others (such as interactions via social media), perfectionism, low self-esteem and developing healthy coping skills.
Learn more about our anorexia treatment and what to expect.
