Anorexia Nervosa

· Behavioural characteristics

Obsession with food, calories and recipes.Restrictive eating behaviour like trying to avoid meals: (e.g.: "I have already eaten, don't feel well").
Noticeable discomfort about their own body (e.g.: "I am very fat"). Feelings of guiltand shame around the subject of eating. Intense fear of becoming fat.
Hyperactivity or excessive physical exercise, occasionally, self-induced vomitingand/or abuse of laxatives and diuretics with the objective of controlling and/or loosingweight.

· Psychological characteristics

Depression, sadness, irritability, crying spells, suicidal ideation, low self-esteem,criticism and constant blaming of oneself.
Tendency to isolation (fear of social situations, mainly those that involve eating).
Perfectionist and self-demanding attitude.

· Physiological characteristics

Progressive weight loss
Amenorrhea (lack of menstruation)
Fainting spells and dizziness, dehydration, hypothermia, irregular heartbeats,anemias and constipation.
Loss of hair, lanugo (development of abnormal very fine body hair on the whole body,
(often considered symptom of starvation)
Oedemas (liquid retention in tissues).
Cardiac arrest and death.