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Health Topics A-Z
Anorexia
How Do I Know If Someone Has Anorexia?
Possible warning signs include:
- Self-starvation and weight loss
- Intense fear of getting fat
- Turning away food
- Denying that one is hungry
- Constant exercise
- New or greater hair growth on the body and face
- Sensitivity to cold
- Absent or irregular menstrual periods
- Loss of hair on the head
- Complaining that one is too fat when obviously too thin
What Are the Treatments?
Treatment for anorexia must take into account both psychological and physical problems. The treatment team should include a mental-health professional and a primary care doctor.
Successful treatment usually includes continuous medical care, regular therapy, nutritional counseling, and sometimes medication. Though antidepressants can be used to treat eating disorders, they are not always effective for anorexia.
Doctors should pay attention to bone loss and heart function. Psychologists can help a person let go of self-destructive thoughts and behaviors and adopt a more positive outlook. Support groups of other recovering anorexics — when properly moderated by a mental-health professional — can also be very helpful.
Treatment usually is successful, but it doesn't work overnight. Long-term psychological and medical attention usually is needed.
SOURCES: Halmi, K. Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Obesity.; Yudofsky, Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry ,4th edition American Psychiatric Publishing, pg 1001-21, 2003. Brewerton, T., Clinical Handbook of Eating Disorders: An Integrated Approach - Edition 1, Marcel Dekker, Inc, 2004.