What Are the Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa manifests with symptoms including severe dietary restriction or refusal to eat, distorted body image perception, impaired physical function, emotional and behavioral abnormalities, and endocrine disturbances. It is a serious psychosomatic disorder that poses significant threats to physical health. If symptoms such as rapid weight loss, refusal to eat, or profound fatigue and weakness occur, prompt medical evaluation and treatment are essential.

1. Excessive dietary restriction and food avoidance: Patients consciously and deliberately restrict food intake, actively avoiding high-calorie foods such as staple carbohydrates and meats, resulting in markedly reduced food consumption. Some individuals may engage in compensatory behaviors—including secretive self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise—even while already underweight, persisting in further caloric restriction.

2. Distorted body image perception: Despite objectively low body weight, patients subjectively perceive themselves as overweight or obese. They exhibit heightened preoccupation with weight numbers, repeatedly scrutinize their bodies in mirrors, struggle to accept their actual physical appearance, and develop an intense, obsessive drive for weight loss.

3. Impaired physical function: Marked weight loss leads to dry, pale skin; brittle, thinning hair; and frequent dizziness and fatigue. Immune function declines, increasing susceptibility to syncope (fainting) and cold intolerance. Organ systems become increasingly burdened, and overall physiological functioning progressively deteriorates.

4. Emotional and behavioral abnormalities: Patients commonly experience anxiety, depression, irritability, and social withdrawal. Personality changes may include increased social isolation, hypersensitivity, excessive concern about others’ perceptions of their body shape, rigid or obsessive thinking patterns, and marked emotional lability.

5. Endocrine disturbances: In females, menstrual irregularities—such as delayed periods or amenorrhea—commonly occur due to hormonal imbalances. Additional manifestations include poor sleep quality, diminished gastrointestinal motility and digestive function, bloating, and indigestion.

Families should avoid blaming or criticizing restrictive eating behaviors; instead, they should offer empathy and support. Collaborative, professional psychological and nutritional interventions are crucial to gradually restore healthy eating attitudes and help the body recover toward normal physiological functioning.