Typical anorexic behaviors may include:

 

1.         Voluntary starvation.  A stubborn refusal to eat in spite of hunger, irritability, and light-headedness is characteristic of the disorder.

2.         Compulsive exercise.  Excessive exercise for prolonged periods of time is not unusual.  Solitary activities (running, calisthenics) are usually preferred over team sports.

3.         Distorted body image.  Anorexics do not have an accurate picture of their bodies.  Even when emaciated, they will insist that they are still too fat, usually wanting to lose “just a few extra pounds.”

4.         Deception.  To avoid conflicts over their guarded eating habits and diets, anorexics may lie, saying that they have eaten when they have not.

5.         Inappropriate dress.  Even in hot weather, anorexics may wear several layers of bulky clothing to warm their cold bodies and to conceal their thinness.  The weight loss of which they are so proud is also the most noticeable thing about them, bringing questions and pointed comments from family and friends.

6.         Vicarious involvement with food.  Because they are always hungry, anorexics are pre-occupied with food, cooking, grocery shopping, and nutritional information.  They may cook gourmet meals for others and not eat a bite themselves.  They often collect cookbooks and study calorie charts until they have memorized them.

7.         Compulsive rituals.  They may cut their small pieces of food into tiny pieces and then spend a long time eating each piece.  These kinds of rituals are defenses against anxiety.

8.         Perfectionism.  Anorexics are usually perfectionistic in all aspects of their lives: personal appearance, relationships, job projects, and athletic performance.  Anything less than an A+ grade in school is cause for despair.

9.         Occasional binges and purges.  Some anorexics occasionally yield to their hunger pangs and eat or even binge.  Then they feel guilty because they did not maintain their strict, unrealistic discipline.  To ease their anxiety and regain control, they vomit, fast, exercise, or abuse laxatives.

10.    Social withdrawal.  Anorexics tend to avoid social activities and sexual relationships.  They are often introverted and withdrawn.

11.    Extreme control.  Anorexics maintain rigid control over almost all aspects of their lives.  They find security in discipline and order and may, for example, weigh themselves several times a day to make sure they are still in control.

12.    Resistant to feedback.  Anorexics usually deny they need help, insisting that their bony bodies are normal and even attractive.  They resist all offers of help and become resentful and hostile when urged to eat.  Eventually, they may avoid having contact with anyone who challenges their lifestyle.

 

 

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