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Learn more about the results we get at Within

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Early warning signs of anorexia nervosa

Facing eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) in your own life or that of a loved one can be a daunting task. But it's not totally desperate; there are many ways you may be able to help.

Current research indicates that early detection and intervention are crucial for decreasing the risk of long-term illness and medical complications from disorders like AN, bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED).5

As there is no guaranteed way to prevent AN, detecting these early warning signs of anorexia is one of the best ways to help people get the treatment they need as quickly as possible and give them the best chance for long-term recovery.

4
 minute read
Last updated on 
December 6, 2023
December 5, 2023
Warning signs of anorexia
In this article
two women at a table

Emotional and behavioral early signs of anorexia

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, early signs of anorexia can be divided into two main categories: emotional/behavioral signs and physical signs.3

Emotional and behavioral signs are just what they sound like—anorexia warning signs that can present through someone's behavioral and emotional reactions.

If you or a loved one are expressing some of these emotional symptoms, it doesn't necessarily mean they're early signs of anorexia, but they likely indicate that some type of deeper problem is in play:3

  • Dressing in layers to hide body changes or stay warm
  • Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
  • Restrictive eating
  • Frequent self-judgment about body shape and size 
  • Denying feeling hungry
  • Developing food rituals
  • Cooking meals for others without eating
  • Avoiding mealtimes or situations involving food
  • Maintaining an excessive, rigid exercise regimen despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury
  • Becoming reclusive
  • Concerned about eating in public
  • Limited social spontaneity
  • Intense fear of gaining weight 
  • Disturbed experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or inability to perceive body size accurately 
  • Feeling ineffective
  • Has a strong need for control
  • Has overly restrained initiative and emotional expression

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Physical anorexia warning signs

Again, the physical warning signs of anorexia are essentially what they sound like—physical signs that someone may be struggling with AN or another serious condition. As the eating disorder progresses, these physical symptoms may become more visible or extreme.

Some common physical early signs of anorexia include:3

  • Dramatic weight loss (does not always occur in AN due to variation in genetic response to energy restriction)
  • Stomach cramps and non-specific gastrointestinal ailments (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Low body weight
  • Difficulties concentrating
  • Abnormal laboratory findings (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, low blood cell counts, slow heart rate)
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Feeling cold all the time
  • Sleep problems
  • Cuts and calluses across the top of finger joints (a result of inducing vomiting)
  • Dental problems
  • Dry skin
  • Dry and brittle nails
  • Swelling around salivary glands in the mouth
  • Thinning of hair on the head, dry and brittle hair (lanugo)
  • Cavities
  • Muscle weakness
  • Poor wound healing
  • Impaired immune functioning
two women looking at a checklist

Risk factors for anorexia

It is also important to note the impact of risk factors associated with the development of anorexia nervosa and be especially aware of anorexia warning signs developing in individuals who are at higher risk for the mental illness. 

The term “risk factor” refers to a quantifiable characteristic preceding a disorder's onset. According to a study specifically dedicated to risk factors of AN, they can be divided into four categories: personal vulnerability, environmental, dieting vulnerability, and age.4

Personal warning signs of anorexia
Environmental anorexia warning signs
Dieting vulnerability early signs of anorexia

Finding help for anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a serious illness that can have significant psychological, physical, and social impacts on individuals who are struggling, as well as their families and communities. It can result in long-term medical complications and even death.

Early detection and intervention are linked to better treatment outcomes and reduced chances of long-term illness of AN left. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent AN, awareness of risk factors, attentiveness to early warning signs, and access to immediate and supportive care are important ways to facilitate the best possible outcome.

Community support can also help reduce feelings of shame and isolation for individuals with AN and other EDs and enable earlier access to specialized treatment and support.1,2

Treatment wherever you are

If you think you or someone you know may be struggling with anorexia nervosa, learning more and reaching out for advice and support are essential steps towards healing.

You can also reach out to us at Within Health. Our team of multidisciplinary experts can help detect and understand the many factors that work to develop and maintain AN and help someone overcome this range of concerns.

Get help today

Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.

Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.

Resources

  1. Kalindjian, N., Hirot, F., Stona, A. C., Huas, C., & Godart, N. (2022). Early detection of eating disorders: a scoping review. Eating and weight disorders: EWD, 27(1), 21–68.
  2. Weeda-Mannak, W. L. (1983). Aspects of Early Detection of Anorexia Nervosa. Psychosomatic Medicine, 119-124.
  3. Warning Signs and Symptoms. (2017, February 26). National Eating Disorders Association. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  4. Fairburn, G. D. C. M. (1999). Risk Factors for Anorexia Nervosa: Three Integrated Case-Control Comparisons. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(5), 468-476.
  5. Why early intervention for eating disorders is essential. (2019, September 3). National Eating Disorders Association. Retrieved August 31, 2022.

FAQs

Further reading

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Further reading

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