| Anorexia nervosa: Signs and symptoms | 269.000000000000 | Anorexia nervosa: Signs and symptoms | Anorexia nervosa: Signs and symptoms | A | English | Psychiatry | Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Body | NA | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2016-02-02T05:00:00Z | | Seena Grewal, MD, MSc, FRCP(C) | | | | 10.0000000000000 | 53.5000000000000 | 645.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Find out about the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa.</p> | <p>People with anorexia often hide their illness and may even deny having a problem. Because anorexia can cause serious medical complications, it is important to seek help as soon as you suspect it in your child.</p>
<p>Anorexia has a range of behavioural and physical signs and symptoms. Click the icons in the image below to find out more.</p>
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<div class="asset-animation"> src="https://akhpub.aboutkidshealth.ca/Style%20Library/akh/swfanimations/AMD_anorexia_signs_and_symptoms_EN.html"<br></div></figure><br> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Someone with anorexia will often hide it and deny having a problem, but there are a number of behavioural and physical signs to watch for.</li>
<li>Behavioural signs include avoiding family meals, limiting food choices, wearing baggy clothes and being more irritable than usual.</li>
<li>Physical signs include not gaining weight, or losing weight, feeling cold all the time, dizziness and low energy.</li>
</ul> | | <h2>Behavioural signs of anorexia nervosa</h2>
<h3>Avoiding family meals</h3>
<p>People with anorexia will make excuses to avoid eating meals with others, especially their family. They may say they have already eaten or schedule other activities during mealtimes to avoid eating in front of others. They may also skip meals, such as breakfast.</p>
<h3>Limiting food choices</h3>
<p>People with anorexia may avoid eating food they think is fattening or eat only low-calorie food. They may want to carefully check the labels of food before they eat them. They may also put an emphasis on only eating a particular way, for example following a low-carb diet, and have a hard time being flexible with different foods.</p>
<h3>Wearing baggy clothes</h3>
<p>People with anorexia may wear baggy clothes, or many layers of clothing, to hide their weight loss from their parents. </p>
<h3>Becoming more irritable</h3>
<p>People with anorexia may lack concentration and be very irritable (cranky). Because their brains are starved of nutrients they may not think clearly and, as a result, may react in a way that is out of proportion to the situation. This may result in emotional outbursts or becoming obsessed and inflexible about how something is done.</p>
<h3>Becoming very interested in food or cooking</h3>
<p>People with anorexia may spend more time watching cooking shows or trying new recipes but will rarely eat what they prepare. A teen with anorexia may start giving more direction to their parents about the type of groceries they want to be bought.</p>
<h3>Spending more time with parents</h3>
<p>Younger children may want to spend more time around their parents or less time with their friends.</p>
<h2>Physical signs of anorexia nervosa </h2>
<h3>Not gaining weight</h3>
<p> As children are growing, they should always be getting bigger in terms of height and weight. If a child stops growing or gaining weight, it might be a sign they have anorexia. Signs that a child has stopped growing include not needing to change their clothing or shoe size over many months.</p>
<h3>Losing weight</h3>
<p>In teens, anorexia is more likely to be suspected if someone loses weight rather than stops growing (which is a natural occurrence). If your teen is losing weight, see your child's doctor immediately.</p>
<h3>Feeling cold</h3>
<p>People with anorexia have decreased circulation. Because of this, they may feel cold even when most people feel comfortable or warm and may wear clothes that are warmer than necessary for the weather.</p>
<h3>Having low energy</h3>
<p>Because of their lower calorie intake, people with anorexia usually have very low energy levels.</p>
<h3>Feeling dizzy</h3>
<p>Lack of nutrition and fluids, and decreased muscle tissue, can make people with anorexia feel dizzy or faint.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on anorexia, please see the following pages:</p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">Anorexia: Overview</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=267&language=English">Anorexia: Medical complications</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=700&language=English">Anorexia: Treatment options</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=266&language=English">Anorexia: How to help your child at home</a></p><h2>Resources</h2><p>
<a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></p><p>
<a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics –
<em>
<a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Eating-Disorders-in-Children.aspx" target="_blank">Eating Disorders in Children</a> </em></p><p>
<a href="http://www.b-eat.co.uk/" target="_blank">B-EAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p>
<a href="http://www.keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario –
<em>
<a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank">Eating Disorders</a></em></p> | | <img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_warning_signs.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_warning_signs.jpg | | | | | | | Anorexia nervosa: Signs and symptoms | | False | | | | | |
