Anorexia Nervosa and Guys - What are the Characteristics

Anorexia Nervosa in Men

Anorexia nervosa is a severe, life-threatening disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a minimally normal body weight, is intensely afraid of gaining weight, and exhibits a significant distortion in the perception of the shape or size of his body, as well as dissatisfaction with his body shape and size.

Behavioral Characteristics:
* Excessive dieting, fasting, restricted diet
* Food rituals
* Preoccupation with body building, weight lifting, or muscle toning
* Compulsive exercise
* Difficulty eating with others, lying about eating
* Frequently weighing self
* Preoccupation with food
* Focus on certain body parts; e.g., buttocks, thighs, stomach
* Disgust with body size or shape
* Distortion of body size; i.e., feels fat even though others tell him he is already very thin

Emotional and Mental Characteristics:
* Intense fear of becoming fat or gaining weight
* Depression
* Social isolation
* Strong need to be in control
* Rigid, inflexible thinking, "all or nothing"
* Decreased interest in sex or fears around sex
* Possible conflict over gender identity or sexual orientation
* Low sense of self worth -- uses weight as a measure of worth
* Difficulty expressing feelings
* Perfectionistic -- strives to be the neatest, thinnest, smartest, etc.
* Difficulty thinking clearly or concentrating
* Irritability, denial -- believes others are overreacting to his low weight or caloric restriction
* Insomnia

Physical Characteristics:
* Low body weight (15% or more below what is expected for age, height, activity level)
* Lack of energy, fatigue
* Muscular weakness
* Decreased balance, unsteady gait
* Lowered body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate
* Tingling in hands and feet
* Thinning hair or hair loss
* Lanugo (downy growth of body hair)
* Heart arrhythmia
* Lowered testosterone levels