Anorexia Nervosa
People with anorexia lose weight by intentionally starving themselves – in addition to severely restricting what they eat, they might also intentionally vomit after eating (called purging), intentionally misuse diuretics and laxatives, and exercise constantly. A person struggling with anorexia is very controlling about food (they have rituals and rigid rules about what they can eat) and they tend to be secretive about eating – you might notice that you have a hard time getting them to agree to join you for lunch or out to eat after school. Also, it is common for a person with anorexia to be extremely fearful of being overweight – they usually don’t feel good about themselves and they believe they are fat even when they’re dangerously thin. If you have anorexia, you might feel like you’re struggling for control of your life and feel distant from your family and friends; you might feel depressed or edgy, sick, and weak. It is very important to get help if you’re struggling with food – starvation, and the use of purging for weight loss can cause life threatening medical problems.