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Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa, usually develops in adolescents and young adults, mostly women with 10% of those affected being male.
 
It is characterized by a distorted body image, where people see themselves as fat or overweight, despite that not being the case; plus excessive dieting or food restrictions that leads to severe weight loss, with an abnormal and distressing fear of becoming fat.
 
Some also use other strategies to lose weight like excessive exercise or purging.
 
Some people are unable to recognise that they are overweight despite friends and family, as well as scales, pointing that out.
 
 

Consequences of starvation on your body

  • Increase sensitivity to cold

  • Loss hair or boldness

  • Lanugo hair (grow downy hair on body)

  • Dry ski & dehydration

  • Sores

  • Fainting

  • Lung fluid collection (oedema)

  • Spontaneous pneumothorax

  • Increase heart rate

  • Fluid collection around the heart 

  • Irregular heart beat

  • Sudden death

  • Ankle swelling

  • Impaired clotting &increase risk bleeding

  • Jaundice

  • Liver failure

  • Death (very severe cases)

  • Anaemia & tiredness

  • Decrease white blood cells, with ­ risk infections

  • Reduced number platelets with increase risk bleeding

  • Increased Cholesterol

  • Reduced levels of Iron, Folate and Vit B12

  • Reduced Magnesium, Phosphate, Calcium &Vit D

  • Osteoporosis (brittle bones)  & increase risks of ­ fractures

  • Low mood

  • Anxiety  

  • Irritability

  • Obsession & rituals or compulsions

  • Poor concentration

  • Poor sleep

  • Increase preoccupation with food

  • Dental erosion and decay

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Shrieked stomach and cramps

  • Gastroparesis (stomach paralysis) 

  • Slow gastric empting & feeling full

  • Constipation

  • Risk of kidney infections

  • Risk of kidney stones

  • Kidney failure

  • Muscle weakness

  • Lack menstrual periods &/or libido

  • Infertility

  • Late or arrested puberty

  • Growth restriction

  • Urinary and faecal incontinence

  • Uterine prolapse

  • Urinary Frequency (increase need to urinate, often overnight)

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