Does Someone You Care About Have Anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder that develops when someone stops
eating enough food for adequate nutrition. It can happen slowly,
over several months or even years, as when some people grow
older or develop an underlying disease like cancer. As their
appetite dwindles, they may stop eating altogether or gradually
eat less and less. Without taking in enough calories or
nutrients, a person can get sick or become weak. Any other
health condition that develops during this time can then further
compromise that person's health.
Another type of anorexia is based on personal self-image.
People who are trying to lose weight sometimes take extreme
measures by reducing the amount of food they eat and eating much
less frequently. While it can be easy to lose several pounds
each week in this way, such dramatic weight loss can lead to
unhealthy consequences, including heart arrhythmias, weakness,
dehydration, loss of concentration, and nutritional imbalances,
among others. If left undiagnosed and untreated, some of these
results can be fatal.
If you suspect someone you care about has anorexia, here are
some of the possible symptoms that may indicate the presence of
this situation.
1. The person may eat little or nothing for many meals. Watch
to see how much food is placed on the person's plate, whether
she eats it all, and if she has second helpings. If she picks at
her food, spits some bites into her napkin, or leaves some on
her plate, this could signal that she isn't getting much
nutrition, especially if it happens frequently. She may sip
water instead or poke at her food instead of taking regular
bites, chewing, and swallowing.
2. The person may binge and purge. You might see the person
stuffing her face with regular or high-calorie foods, and then
disappearing into the bathroom soon after eating. Excessive
eating followed by fasting, or binging following by prolonged
bathroom visits may be signs that the person is not processing
food correctly.
3. The person may use diet aids or medications to slow eating.
If you have access to her medicine chest, or feel comfortable
enough asking, you can find out if the person is taking
diuretics to make her urinate more frequently and eliminate
extra water for temporary weight loss. An anorexic also may be
taking appetite suppressants that cause her to feel less hungry
and to eat less. She also might have medication to cause
frequent bowel movements, or even take enemas fairly often.
This, however, may cause the intestines to become sluggish and
stop working much on their own.
4. The person might show signs of moodiness, fatigue, or
depression. These, however, also may represent other conditions
as well, so urge the person to see the doctor if you're not sure
anorexia is the cause.
If someone under your supervision shows symptoms like these,
take her or him to the doctor. If the person is an independent
adult, make yourself available as a confidante, and when
opportunities arise, be ready to advise a medical examination.