Physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa associated with starvation
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.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: September 25, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry | |
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