What Harvard Health Publishing And 3 Other Doctors Think: What Physical Effects Does Anorexia Nervosa Have?
Anorexia Nervosa image
Answered by Dr. Howard E. Lewine
M.D. Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing · 40 years of experience · USA
The physical effects of anorexia nervosa include: • Significant weight loss (more than 15% of ideal body weight) • Distorted self-image; feeling fat despite being thin • Self-esteem that depends on weight and appearance • Amenorrhea (stopping of menstrual periods or a delay of starting menstruation in young teens) • Skin dryness or flakiness • Brittle nails and hair • Anemia • Swelling in feet and ankles • Intolerance to cold • Hypothermia (low body temperature) • Poor concentration • Dehydration • Fainting
Answered by Dr. Marcelle Freire
Doctor of Medicine · 3 years of experience · Brazil
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by intense and abnormal fear of gaining weight and distortion of body self-perception. It usually presents with intense psychic and physical symptoms and the patient usually presents an important change in the way he eats, with intense restriction of calorie consumption due to an irrational fear of gaining weight, which has a profound impact on physical health. Usually, the physical impacts result from malnutrition and the patient may experience constipation, vomiting, nausea, weakness, restlessness, tremors, hair loss, dry skin, menstrual disorders, intolerance to cold, fainting, among others. When severe, it can complicate with cardiac involvement, pancreatitis, liver dysfunction and pulmonary dysfunction.
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Answered by Dr. Manju Narayani
Doctor of Medicine (MD) · 10 years of experience · India
Anorexia nervosa is a eating disorder that presents with abnormally lower weight than the normal or minimal weight to be attained. The person feels a distorted body weight and refuses to eat. The symptoms include starvation, extreme weight loss, tiredness, difficlty in sleeping, irregular heart beat, low blood pressure.
Answered by Dr. Marcella Abunahman Pereira
Specialization in Clinical Cardiology · 12 years of experience · Brazil
Anorexia causes numerous physical effects such as low body temperature, osteoporosis, fatigue and low blood pressure. It also causes irregular menstruation or absence of menstruation, hair loss, thinness, dry hair and brittle nails.
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