What Are the Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?
May 07, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Zhengxin
Introduction
Patients with anorexia nervosa do not necessarily experience poor appetite; in fact, some may even have a good appetite at times. However, when it is time to eat, they often feel unable to consume food—eating even a small amount quickly induces a sensation of fullness and gastric distension. Some patients report aversion to food upon seeing it, even when hungry, and lack the desire to eat. Nevertheless, in order to obtain energy, they may force themselves to consume small amounts of food.
Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, depressed mood, and excessive fasting or food refusal, leading to significant weight loss, malnutrition, and an inability—or unwillingness—to maintain even the minimal healthy body weight.
In the early stages, individuals with anorexia nervosa do not necessarily experience severely diminished appetite; in fact, they may occasionally feel quite hungry. However, when it comes time to eat, they often feel unable to consume food—even small amounts may induce early satiety, abdominal distension, and bloating. Some patients report aversion to food upon seeing it, even when experiencing hunger, yet may still force themselves to eat minimally to obtain essential energy.
During the initial phase of anorexia nervosa, even highly preferred or previously enjoyed foods fail to elicit interest or appetite. Even when individuals compel themselves to eat, they may experience vomiting—a profoundly unhealthy physiological response that, if sustained over time, inflicts severe damage on the body.
As the illness progresses to a more advanced stage, patients may develop edema due to weight loss, marked depletion of body fat, cold intolerance, and gastric coldness. Hormonal imbalances ensue, resulting in hair thinning, reduced body hair, impaired cardiac function, bradycardia (abnormally slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), prolonged QT interval on electrocardiogram, syncope (fainting), and, in extreme cases, life-threatening complications.
