For a person who is experiencing anorexia nervosa, a common symptom may be underweight. Underweight may not always be obvious and will depend on the person's age, sex, stage of development, and physical health. Underweight can be defined as a weight below the normal or expected minimum (for growing children and adolescents). One study showed that weight suppression had significant links to weight, bodily concerns, excessive exercise, food restriction, and the use of weight-management medications (5.A person struggling with an eating disorder usually doesn't have all of these signs and symptoms at once, and warning signs vary across eating disorders and don't always fit into neat categories.
However, weight changes in a person may be difficult to notice and may not be enough to diagnose anorexia. As the person tries to achieve perfect weight or shape, which is actually an effort to cope with intense emotions and stress, their relationships can become difficult. One of the most common warning signs when watching a person with anorexia nervosa is that they recently lost an extreme amount of weight over time, such as seeing someone during holidays or going back to school after a break. This organization seeks to improve the lives of people served in healthcare settings through a consultative accreditation process that emphasizes quality, value, and optimal service outcomes.
As an eating disorder gains momentum, it can lead to signs of irritability, depression, and anxiety, causing the person to stop socializing and lose interest in activities they previously enjoyed. This can be due to a number of factors and serve any number of purposes, but whatever the reason behind the eating disorder, these actions are harmful and can lead to significant functional impairment, even leading to death in extreme cases. In addition to having a low body weight, a person who is experiencing anorexia may have a significant or dramatic decrease in their weight. Excessive exercise is often present in combination with high levels of anxiety, depression, and obsessive personalities and behaviors (35, 3.The reasons for developing anorexia may be different for each person and may include genetics, past trauma, and other mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
If the person weighs less than 85 percent of their ideal body weight and has other signs characteristic of an eating disorder, they may be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Another warning sign is witnessing someone who appears to be concerned about food, their weight, or calorie intake. A person with an eating disorder will continue these behaviors despite physical and personal consequences. You cannot tell if a person has anorexia just by his appearance because anorexia also involves mental and behavioral components, not just physical ones.