It is one of a parent’s worst fears - they suspect their daughter is anorexic. Anorexia is a crippling mental illness that strikes girls usually in the age group of 13-20 years old. This illness can be life threatening if it is not diagnosed, treated, and cured. The first step to preventing or curing anorexia is recognizing the symptoms. By knowing the signs and symptoms, you can spot this illness and get your daughter help before it progresses to far.

Signs of Anorexia - Food Behavior

Dieting even though they are already thin. Girls that have anorexia make themselves follow an extremely strict diet. They ban certain foods from their life and eat only certain low-calorie foods.

Lying about eating - An anorexic will hide food and throw it away later. They will also sit at the table and eat with the family but if you notice, they will only nibble on a small amount of food and eat very little.

Pretending they are eating.

Obsessed with counting calories and fat grams.

Strange food rituals - Some anorexics refuse to eat in public or have to have their food fixed or cut in an exact way before they will eat it.

Signs of Anorexia - Physical Appearance

Feels fat even though underweight.

Obsessed with body image.

Overly critical with appearance.

Denies being thin - Girls that are anorexic will hide the fact that they’ve lost weight by wearing large and baggy clothes.

Large amount of weight loss - Rapid weight loss for no medical reason.

Extreme behavior.

Exercises compulsively.

Throws up after eating - Anorexics will disappear after eating so they can throw up their meal in private.

Use of laxatives and diuretics - Abuses water pills and laxatives to help lose weight.

If you notice these signs in your daughter, you need to contact your doctor and let her recommend a professional that is trained to handle anorexia nervosa. This illness isn’t one that can generally be treated at home by yourself. It isn’t easy to "fix." Nagging, pleading, or commanding they stop the behavior can’t "fix" this illness.

Girls that get anorexia have deeper problems that have caused this illness and it needs to be treated by a professional who has dealt with it before. Anorexia is truly a life threatening disease and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you see these signs in your daughter, get help immediately.