{"id":78626,"date":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spunout.ie\/navigator\/informations\/anorexia-the-signs-symptoms-and-treatment\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:21:41","slug":"anorexia-the-signs-symptoms-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"informations","link":"https:\/\/spunout.ie\/navigator\/informations\/anorexia-the-signs-symptoms-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Anorexia: The signs, symptoms and treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anorexia Nervosa, often referred to as anorexia, is a mental health condition that causes changes in a person’s relationship with food and eating habits. For people with anorexia nervosa, the idea of gaining weight can make them feel extremely anxious or frightened. This can cause them to try to keep their weight as low as possible. Usually, a person does this by limiting what they eat and exercising too much. This can eventually lead the person to develop compulsive eating and exercise-related behaviours. Anorexia nervosa has a significant negative impact on a person’s physical, emotional and mental health.\u00a0<\/span>Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder<\/a>. Media often represents anorexia nervosa as a condition affecting young women exclusively. However, people of any age or gender identity can develop the condition. The symptoms of anorexia nervosa most commonly develop during teenage years, but they can begin at any age. <\/span>People of any body shape and size can develop anorexia nervosa. However, research indicates that individuals who do not fit the stereotype or who are in larger bodies are less likely to receive a diagnosis. Some people may be diagnosed with atypical anorexia nervosa. In atypical anorexia nervosa, a person experiences all the same symptoms of typical anorexia nervosa, except they are not underweight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why do people develop anorexia?<\/span><\/h2>\n

It is not always clear why someone develops anorexia nervosa. The exact causes can vary from person to person. Worries about body image<\/a> can often play a significant role, leading to the myth that the condition is all about food and body size. However, the root causes are usually far more complex, involving a range of biological, social, emotional and psychological factors. Visible differences in eating behaviours are often just the external expression of an internal emotional struggle. <\/span>Mental health difficulties<\/a> like anxiety<\/a> and low self-esteem<\/a>, a family history of eating disorders, addiction, or traumatic experiences like sexual abuse<\/a> are all associated with developing anorexia. To better understand how anorexia affects a person, it can be helpful to think of it as a coping mechanism. People with the condition often control food and their body to manage emotional distress. This can help them feel in control when something else in their life is making them feel out of control or unsafe. Recognising this can make it easier to understand why someone might not be able to stop restricting food without support.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs and symptoms of anorexia<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anorexia is a mental health condition characterised by symptoms in three main areas:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. People with anorexia restrict their food intake which, over time, can cause them to become underweight\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. People with anorexia have a fear of gaining weight or becoming bigger<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. People with anorexia often perceive their body shape or weight in a distorted way. They often spend a lot of time thinking about their body shape and size\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Not everyone who experiences anorexia nervosa will have the exact same profile of symptoms. Different symptoms can emerge as the condition develops over time. Untreated anorexia can cause physical symptoms and life-threatening medical complications over time. <\/span>Because some symptoms of anorexia don’t develop straight away, reaching out for help and support is important, even if you aren’t currently experiencing physical symptoms or complications. <\/span>Like all eating disorders, anorexia nervosa begins in the brain, and affects how you think and feel. Emotional distress does not have to be accompanied by physical complications to justify care and support. Below is a list of common signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa. <\/span>This list doesn’t capture all the signs and symptoms associated with anorexia, as each individual’s experience with anorexia is different.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Your behaviour when dealing with anorexia<\/span><\/h3>\n