What Is Anorexia?
Anorexia is an eating disorder that has similar symptoms in common with bulimia, but they have different food-related behaviors. Some risk factors for developing an eating disorder include genetics, perfectionism, bullying, and teasing.
Anorexia is characterized by severe food restriction. The restriction of food intake can lead to malnourishment and even death. A person with anorexia may vomit or take laxatives to lose weight. There are many symptoms that are often the first warning signs that can be noticed by loved ones, and they include:
- Talking about weight or food all the time
- Not eating or eating very little
- Refusing to eat in front of others
- Social withdrawal
- Talking badly about their body
- Trying to hide their body with baggy clothes
- Extreme exercise, such as exercising for too long or too intensely
