Anorexia nervosa is a complicated eating disorder, often rooted in both biological and psychological issues
Characteristics Of Anorexia
- Intense drive for thinness, resulting in severe emaciation
- Significant weight loss
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Distorted body image
- [For women] Cessation of the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea) for at least three months
- [For men] Decreased sexual drive
Important Facts
- Typically develops in adolescence or young adulthood
- Affects about one in 2,400 adolescents
- 90-95 percent of affected individuals are female
- Usually preceded by dieting behavior, including exercise
- Psychological problems displaced onto food
- Unusual food behaviors
- Vicarious enjoyment of food (e.g., cooking it, serving it, being around it)
- Preoccupation with body weight and image
- Weight loss becomes increasingly important
- Denial of the condition can be extreme
- Body image disturbance (i.e., misperception of body size and shape)
- Pronounced emotional changes
- Low self-esteem
Learn More About The Laureate Eating Disorders Program
Please call us with questions at 918-491-3702. If you’re outside the Tulsa metro area, please call 800-322-5173. There is no cost for the screening call and no obligation to proceed with treatment.