Find clinic locations for Fort HealthCare and affiliated clinics and services in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
Find services offered by Fort HealthCare and affiliated clinics in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.
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Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can happen to anyone, but it mostly affects young women. It can threaten your health, your well-being, and even your life. Much about anorexia isn’t fully understood. But it can be treated. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. They can help.
If you have anorexia, you likely have a false image of your body. No matter how thin you are, you may see yourself as fat. And you may try almost anything to lose weight. You might eat very small amounts of food. You might even weigh each bite. Or you might not eat at all. To burn more calories, you might exercise too much and too often. But without enough fuel, your body starts to starve. Over time, you may lose 15 % or more of your total weight. As a result, you may feel cold all the time. Your menstrual periods may stop. And your muscles may start to waste away. Sadly, some women with anorexia die—often of heart disease.
A low body weight defined as a BMI (body mass index) of less than 18.5
Extremely restricted eating
Extreme thinness (emaciation)
Weight loss of 15% or more of body weight
Relentless pursuit of thinness
Fear of gaining weight, if you’re very thin
Lack of menstrual periods (in women)
Problems with digestion, energy, memory, and concentration
Growth of fine hair all over the body (lanugo)
Thinning of the bones (osteopenia or osteoporosis)
Mild anemia and muscle wasting and weakness
Feeling cold all the time
Loss of sex drive
Dental cavities
Hair loss
Dry skin
Severe constipation
Anorexia can affect anyone, including men. But it's most common in women. It's more common in people who do activities that value thinness, such as modeling, ballet, gymnastics, and other sports. The causes are not known. But they probably include traits you are born with, lessons you learn growing up, and the values of society. People with anorexia are often concerned with being perfect. Many feel pressured to succeed by parents, coaches, teachers, or on their own. Some have a hard time coping with stress. People with anorexia are also more likely to have depression.
It can be hard to admit you have an eating disorder. In fact, you may not even notice how thin you are. You may keep trying to lose weight. You may also try to hide your problem from others. But in most cases, anorexia won’t go away on its own. Fortunately, treatment often can help. The first step is to confide in someone you trust. You don’t have to deal with anorexia alone.