What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. Common characteristics of anorexia include having an obsessive fear of gaining weight, distorted body image and low body weight. Anorexia nervosa can have a devastating impact on your physical health, so it’s important to find out what you can do to recognise the symptoms and get help.

This can help if:

• you have a fear of gaining weight

• you’ve started restricting how much food you eat or are calorie counting

• you don’t like eating around other people

• after you’ve eaten, you try to rid your body of the food

• you’re worried a friend or family member might have anorexia.

Characteristics of anorexia nervosa

A unique characteristic of anorexia nervosa is that it can warp a person’s perspective of how their body looks. They may be underweight, but still believe they ‘need’ to lose weight and have an intense fear of gaining weight. Someone with anorexia nervosa will attempt to maintain a low body weight by restricting the amount of food they eat, regardless of the serious physical consequences. Food, calories, exercise, weight and appearance become an obsession, making it difficult for them to think about much else.

For people with anorexia nervosa, limiting food intake and losing weight are often ways of feeling a sense of control in areas of their life that otherwise feel out of control. Their body image might define their sense of self-worth, and restricting what they eat may be a way of coping with unpleasant or frightening emotions such as sadness or anxiety.

Anorexia nervosa vs bulimia nervosa – what is the difference?

The main difference between these two eating disorders is that someone with anorexia nervosa typically severely restricts the amount of food they eat, whereas someone with bulimia nervosa typically ‘binges’ a significant amount of food and then ‘purges’ in response. Purging can involve vomiting, taking laxatives or over-exercising. Learn more about bulimia nervosa.

Common signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa

Common signs of anorexia include:

• having an intense fear of gaining weight

• counting calories, obsessively avoiding certain foods, or having a narrow range of ‘safe’ foods that are okay to eat

• not wanting to eat, and doing things to avoid eating

• not wanting to admit being hungry

• over-exercising or doing other things to ‘get rid’ of the calories

• obsessively weighing one’s self, looking in the mirror or body checking (pinching waist or wrists)

• excessive use of laxatives, appetite suppressants, enemas and diuretics

• avoiding social outings with family and friends.

If you are experiencing any of these signs or symptoms, a good first step is to share how you’re feeling with someone you trust, such as a family member, teacher, psychologist or doctor. You can find treatment options for anorexia further down this page.

Short term effects of anorexia

Some of the short term effects of anorexia nervosa may include:

• rapid and unsustainable weight loss

• brittle hair and nails

• sensitivity to temperature and feeling cold easily

• dry or yellowing skin

• soft downy hair growing all over the body

• irregular heartbeat, which can increase risk of heart attacks

• difficulty with concentration and memory

• stomach and digestion issues such as bloating, nausea, constipation, cramping and diarrhoea

• irregular or no menstrual periods.

Long term effects of anorexia

Some of the long term effects of anorexia nervosa may include:

• heart damage and increased risk of heart disease and failure

• blood pressure complications

• infertility in both females and males, due to impacts on the menstrual cycle and impacts to sperm count and mobility

• development of osteoporosis and bone difficulties

• neurological disease which can cause muscle weakness, nerve pain, headaches, seizures, fainting and movement problems.

Anorexia nervosa treatments and recovery options

There are a lot of support and treatment options for people dealing with anorexia nervosa. Some of these include:

• individual or family therapy with the support of a mental health professional, such as psychologist or counsellor

• nutritional support from a dietitian

• medication

• self-help treatment programs.

Some people go through anorexia nervosa treatment by staying at a hospital or treatment centre, while others get professional support while staying at home.

Find more information about treatments for anorexia in our detailed guide to eating disorder treatments.

How long does it take to recover from anorexia?

There’s no set time frame for recovering from anorexia nervosa, and recovery can mean different things to different people. For some people recovery is the end of their signs and symptoms (such as the end of restricted eating), while for others it’s the end of the fear, guilt or negative self-talk related to their eating disorder.

Some people recover faster than others, but anyone can recover from an eating disorder regardless of how long it takes. Get more advice about recovering from eating disorders.

I’m only dealing with one or two signs of anorexia nervosa, can I still seek help?

Many people with eating disorders feel that they’re not ‘sick enough’ or ‘thin enough’ to need help. There’s no ‘anorexia test’ you can do to figure out if this is what you’re experiencing — the best thing to do is speak with a professional. Even if you’re not sure whether or not you have a diagnosable eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, it’s important that you talk to someone. The effects of severely restricting your food intake can put you at risk of medical complications regardless of how much you weigh. 

If you’re worried about seeing a health professional, or that’s not an option for you right now, then get in touch with an eating disorder helpline or support service. The staff at these services understand what you’re going through and won’t judge your experiences or needs. They can help you talk about your symptoms, express your feelings and access further support. Find a service that is right for you in this list of eating disorder hotlines and support services.

How can I help someone who I suspect has anorexia?

It’s hard to see someone you care about deal with or show signs of anorexia. They’re likely dealing with intense emotions and a lot of negative feelings about themselves, so show them that you care by gently asking about their experience and listening without judgement.

You don’t have to support them alone — it’s important to encourage them to get professional help. Seeing a GP is a good starting point. You could even offer to go to the appointment with them, if that’s something that you’re both comfortable with. For more advice read our guide of do’s and don’ts for helping a friend with an eating disorder.