The physical signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are related to starvation. Anorexia also includes emotional and behavioral issues involving an unrealistic perception of body weight and an extremely strong fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. It may be difficult to notice signs and symptoms because what is considered a low body weight is different for each person, and some individuals may not appear extremely thin. Also, people with anorexia often disguise their thinness, eating habits or physical problems. Physical symptoms Physical signs and symptoms of anorexia may include:  Extreme weight loss or not making expected developmental weight gains Thin appearance Abnormal blood counts Fatigue Insomnia Dizziness or fainting Bluish discoloration of the fingers Hair that thins, breaks or falls out Soft, downy hair covering the body Absence of menstruation Constipation and abdominal pain Dry or yellowish skin Intolerance of cold Irregular heart rhythms Low blood pressure Dehydration Swelling of arms or legs Eroded teeth and calluses on the knuckles from induced vomiting  Some people who have anorexia binge and purge, similar to individuals who have bulimia. But people with anorexia generally struggle with an abnormally low body weight, while individuals with bulimia typically are normal to above normal weight. Emotional and behavioral symptoms Behavioral symptoms of anorexia may include attempts to lose weight by:  Severely restricting food intake through dieting or fasting Exercising excessively Bingeing and self-induced vomiting to get rid of food, which may include the use of laxatives, enemas, diet aids or herbal products  Emotional and behavioral signs and symptoms may include:  Preoccupation with food, which sometimes includes cooking elaborate meals for others but not eating them Frequently skipping meals or refusing to eat Denial of hunger or making excuses for not eating Eating only a few certain "safe" foods, usually those low in fat and calories Adopting rigid meal or eating rituals, such as spitting food out after chewing Not wanting to eat in public Lying about how much food has been eaten Fear of gaining weight that may include repeated weighing or measuring the body Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws Complaining about being fat or having parts of the body that are fat Covering up in layers of clothing Flat mood (lack of emotion) Social withdrawal Irritability Insomnia Reduced interest in sex 
physical signs symptoms anorexia nervosa starvation  anorexia includes emotional behavioral issues involving unrealistic perception body weight extremely strong fear gaining weight fat  may difficult notice signs symptoms considered low body weight person  individuals may extremely thin  also  people anorexia disguise thinness  eating habits physical problems  physical symptoms physical signs symptoms anorexia may include:  extreme weight loss making expected developmental weight gains thin appearance abnormal blood counts fatigue insomnia dizziness fainting bluish discoloration fingers hair thins  breaks falls soft  downy hair covering body absence menstruation constipation abdominal pain dry yellowish skin intolerance cold irregular heart rhythms low blood pressure dehydration swelling arms legs eroded teeth calluses knuckles induced vomiting  people who anorexia binge purge  similar individuals who bulimia  people anorexia generally struggle abnormally low body weight  individuals bulimia typically normal normal weight  emotional behavioral symptoms behavioral symptoms anorexia may include attempts lose weight by:  severely restricting food intake dieting fasting exercising excessively bingeing self-induced vomiting rid food  may include laxatives  enemas  diet aids herbal products  emotional behavioral signs symptoms may include:  preoccupation food  includes cooking elaborate meals eating frequently skipping meals refusing eat denial hunger making excuses eating eating only "safe" foods  low fat calories adopting rigid meal eating rituals  spitting food chewing wanting eat public lying food eaten fear gaining weight may include repeated weighing measuring body frequent checking mirror perceived flaws complaining being fat parts body fat covering layers clothing flat mood (lack emotion) social withdrawal irritability insomnia reduced interest sex 
anorexia nervosa