They may weigh themselves several times a day or spend a great deal of time looking at their figure in the mirror. Even though they are very thin, people who suffer from this disorder actually think they are overweight.

When they look in the mirror, they do not see themselves as others do. All they are concerned about is losing more weight or the never ending fear of weight gain. Although doctors do not know what causes anorexia nervosa, patients who are afflicted with this disorder often have similar personality and behavioral traits.

Many times they are perfectionists who are very critical of themselves. A person who suffers from anorexia may feel an overwhelming need to be in control of everything around them. Some patients are even under the illusion that if they lose weight they will be happier and life in general will be better. Exercising several times a day or for long periods of time is not uncommon for people with anorexia. They will do anything to achieve what they feel is the perfect body.

A few or several of the following symptoms may be present in people who suffer from anorexia: weight loss, loss of appetite or refusal to eat, over exercising, hair loss or change in appearance of the hair, overwhelming fear of weight gain, unusual eating habits such as refusing to eat around others or chewing food excessively, and constant dieting or the use of weight loss supplements.

treating anorexia is somewhat similar to treating a person who suffers from alcoholism. In order for the person to receive treatment and recover, they have to actually want to change.

If the person does not admit they have a problem or does not believe that there is anything wrong with them, often they will not respond well to any type of medical treatment or counseling therapy.

This is especially a problem in people with anorexia since they do not see themselves as being too thin. Many times they will resist treatment or help. People who have suffered from anorexia for a long period of time will need extensive treatment and follow up counseling.

While getting the person back to a healthy weight is the ultimate goal, doctors must also treat the underlying cause. They need to try and understand what feelings or problems caused the disorder to occur in the first place.

Changing a person’s way of thinking is essential in preventing a reoccurrence of the disorder. Prompt treatment is especially important for a person suffering from anorexia. The longer the disorder persists, the harder it is for the person to physically recover.

Although only a small percentage of the population suffers from anorexia, it has a fairly high fatality rate when left untreated. Patients who refuse to eat are usually kept under hospital care and receive feedings through a tube until they are able to eat on their own again.

The first sign of starvation due to Anorexia is weight loss that continues despite reaching or already being at a healthy weight. Rapid weight loss can also be a sign, although with some medically supervised weight loss programs rapid weight loss is expected.

Most Anorexics either eat very little, or they purge when they do eat, so the body cannot get the nutrients it needs to function adequately. After experiencing starvation for a period of time, the body will try to protect the heart, brain, and other vital organs by slowing down its metabolism and decreasing the heart rate, thyroid function, and blood pressure.

In girls and women, menstruation becomes erratic and in most cases eventually ceases. After a while the hair and nails will become brittle, and significant hair loss will occur. Persons with Anorexia will also suffer from constipation frequently, and the dangerously low levels of fat in the body will also lead to lowering of normal body temperature, causing the person to feel unusually cold most of the time.

When the body is starving, it starts to deplete muscle tissue since it can no longer draw what it needs from food or fat reserves. Since the body is receiving inadequate amounts of iron, anemia can also occur, causing the body to be less efficient at using oxygen.

Lack of oxygen and nutrients can cause dizziness and light-headedness, eventually leading to “foggy” thinking and fainting spells. Severe Anorexia can result in liver failure, kidney failure, and eventually heart and brain damage.

Long before this point is reached, the Anorexic should be hospitalized, ideally for the period of time it takes to treat the various complications, raise the patient’s nutrition levels, and increase the patient’s body weight to an acceptable level.

Unfortunately, this can take weeks or even months, and due to health insurance restrictions few Anorexics can stay in the hospital that long. Intense medical and psychiatric outpatient treatments are often necessary for the patient to experience a successful recovery.