Anorexia nervosa
A serious, potentially life-threatening mental illness where a person restricts what they eat, with an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of their body.
Signs of anorexia nervosa
Someone may show some of these signs, not all of them. Eating disorders affect people of every age, gender, cultural background and body size, and you can’t tell if someone has one just by looking at them.
Physical
- Rapid weight loss or frequent weight changes
- Loss of or changes to periods, and lower sex drive
- Fainting or dizziness
- Feeling cold most of the time, even in warm weather (from poor circulation)
- Feeling bloated or constipated, or developing intolerances to food
- Feeling tired and not sleeping well, with low energy
- Facial changes, such as looking pale or having sunken eyes
- Fine, downy hair on the face and body, and hair loss or thinning
- Loss of bone density (osteoporosis), and slowed growth in young people
Psychological
- Preoccupation with eating, food, body shape and weight
- Feeling anxious or irritable around meal times
- Anxiety and depression
- An intense fear of gaining weight
- Difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly
- ‘Black and white’ thinking, such as rigid rules about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food
- A distorted body image, such as seeing themselves as bigger than they are
- Extreme body dissatisfaction, low self-esteem and perfectionism
- Sensitivity to comments about food, weight, body shape or exercise
Behavioural
- Dieting behaviours, such as skipping meals or cutting out food groups
- Misusing laxatives, appetite suppressants or diuretics
- Repeatedly checking body shape and weight
- Episodes of binge eating
- Eating in private and avoiding meals with others
- Compulsive or excessive exercise
- Big changes in food preferences, and secrecy around eating
- Rigid rituals around preparing and eating food
- A focus on cooking for others, recipes and nutrition
- Self-harm, substance use or thoughts of suicide
Sub-types of anorexia nervosa
- Restricting typeThe most common type. The person limits how much they eat and the kinds of food they eat.
- Binge-eating or purging typeLess well known. The person restricts what they eat, but also has regular episodes of binge eating or purging, such as vomiting, over-exercising or misusing laxatives or diuretics.
If you or someone you know is showing these signs, please reach out for help
Eating disorders are serious, but recovery is possible, and the earlier you get support, the better. A good first step is your GP, or the Butterfly Helpline on 1800 33 4673.
Anorexia nervosa statistics
- 1.8%of Australians will experience anorexia nervosa in their lifetime
- 16–17is the average age it starts, though it can start at any age
- 55–97%of people with an eating disorder also live with another mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression
- 1 in 3people with an eating disorder are male
Sources
Lifetime and gender figures: Deloitte Access Economics (2024). Paying the Price, Second Edition: The economic and social impact of eating disorders in Australia. Butterfly Foundation. Read the report.
Average age: Keski-Rahkonen and others (2018). Mental health conditions: National Eating Disorders Collaboration (2017), as summarised by Eating Disorders Victoria. Figures summarised by Eating Disorders Victoria, which lists each original study.
Treatment for anorexia nervosa
Recovery from anorexia nervosa is possible. Treatment is usually led by a team: a GP or doctor for physical health, a psychologist or therapist, and a dietitian. Evidence-based options include:
- Family-based treatment (also called the Maudsley approach) for children and teenagers, where the family helps with recovery
- Eating disorder–focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-ED)
- The Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA)
- Specialist supportive clinical management (SSCM)
- Regular medical check-ups, and hospital or day programs if someone is medically unwell
Where to start
See your GP. They can check your physical health and write an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan, which gives Medicare rebates for up to 40 psychology sessions and 20 dietitian sessions over 12 months.
Not sure what to say? Our checklist for talking to your GP and Butterfly’s Where do I start? guide can help.
You can recover. You are not alone ❤️
Read how others found their way through recovery.