Anorexia Nervosa has been called the "relentless pursuit of thinness" by ANRED (Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders), a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization composed of people who want to make it easier for you to learn about eating disorders and how to recover from them.
According to ANRED, the signs of anorexia nervosa are:
- Refusal to maintain normal body weight for age and height.
- Weight of 85% or less than what is developmentally expected for age and height.
- Failure to menstruate at the appropriate age. Puberty is delayed in both sexes.
- In adult women, menstrual periods stop. In men, levels of sex hormones fall. Sex drive disappears or is much diminished.
- Denial of the dangers of low weight.
- Terror of becoming fat.
- Terror of gaining weight even though s/he is alarmingly underweight.
- Reports feeling fat even when emaciated.
There is further suffering involved in the form of additional symptoms, such as:
- Depression
- Irritability
- Withdrawal
- Peculiar behaviors such as compulsive rituals, strange eating habits, and division of foods into "good/safe" and "bad/dangerous" categories.
- Low tolerance for change and new situations
- Fear of growing up and assuming adult responsibilities and an adult lifestyle.
- Over-engagement with or dependence on parents or family.
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