Health Home > Nutrition > Physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa associated with starvation

Physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa associated with starvation

Healthwise
By Jeannette Curtis

Did you find this helpful?

Rate this article:
70% of users found this article helpful.

People who have anorexia nervosa often have other physical symptoms that result from their limited food intake or malnutrition, such as:

  • Feeling cold and having a lower-than-normal body temperature.
  • Swelling in the feet and hands.
  • Hair loss, brittle nails, and dry skin.
  • Growth of fine hair (lanugo) on the body.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Constipation, slow emptying of the stomach, and belly pain.
  • Sleep problems, hyperactivity, or extreme fatigue.
  • Difficulty concentrating and solving problems or poor judgment.
  • Fainting spells, low blood pressure, and slow heartbeat.
  • Frequent colds and other infections.
  • Yellow-orange skin, especially on the palms of the hands, or a purplish skin color on the arms and legs.

Credits

Author Jeannette Curtis
Editor Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry
Last Updated September 25, 2007
Last Updated: 09/25/2007

Health Resources

help

Featured Expert

Yahoo! Experts share their tips and advice

Joy's Healthy Bite

By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.

See All Yahoo Experts »

Yahoo! Health Groups

Join the Conversation

Join a Yahoo! Group and discuss with other memebers in the group. Share tips and experiences

See All Yahoo Groups »

Tip of the Day

Provided by: RealAgeNov 5, 2009

Piling your favorite sandwich fixings on the right kind of bread could mean healthier blood pressure. The right choice? One hundred percent whole-grain.

Read More »

View All Tips »