Common Physical Effects of Anorexia Nervosa:

• loss of hair on head
• growth of soft, downy hair on face, back and arms, used for body warmth
• loss of menstruation or irregular periods (which alerts the body that it cannot support a fetus)
• dry skin and brittle hair and fingernails
• cool, grayish or yellowish skin
• lowered body temperature and blood pressure
• slowed reflexes (from slowed heart rate and thyroid function)
• premature loss of bone density
• constipation
• swollen joints
• muscle atrophy
• kidney and heart failure in the most extreme cases

Common Behavioral Patterns:

• obsession with the body and food
• need for perfection and control
• rapid mood swings
• anxiety
• suicidal tendencies
• lethargy
• insomnia
• depression
• daily use of laxatives or diuretics for attempted weight control
• rigid schedule of obsessive exercise, despite physical pain
• ritualized eating habits (eating at precise times of day, chewing each bite a specific number of times, etc.)

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