Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a drive for thinness, a disorted body image, and an obsession with weight and food. Anorexia is a "Nervous loss of appetite", promoting self-starvation in their endless compulsion with thinness. Anorexia may be primary or secondary. In primary Anorexia the anorexia is the central condition and any associated condition like depression is secondary.
The adolescent with Anorexia typically is a high achieving youngster often involved in sports such as gymnastics, swimming, cheer leading, ballet dancing, or wrestling. This disorder usually begins in early adolescence although it can occur in the prepubertal period. In prepubertal girls anorexia may stunt growth and development so that puberty is delayed up to three years. The anorexia usually is influenced by a coach, friend, or other individual who is important to them suggesting that they are getting fat, big, or clumsy and their performance is suffering. Other patients say that they want to look like a famous film star or model.
The anorexic behavior usually begins with a pattern of dieting or avoiding foods that are fattening. The anorexic starts to avoid eating with the family. Further attempts to reduce weight might include compulsive exercising, the anorexic may wear loose clothing to hide thinness from parents. Some signs that the disorder is taking over is when the anorexic looks pale, tired, and wasted, bradycardia may be present, and the skin is cold to touch. At this time the anorexic is in denial about her condition and insists that she is fat.
