Define Clinical Features and Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa, as we have learnt above, is a disorder characterized by deliberate weight loss, induced and/or sustained by the patient. You will notice that the individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa have a typical and distinctive appearance. Their body appearance makes them look younger than their age. The clinical characteristics and the medical complications associated with this disorder are included herewith:

• The patients deny hunger, thinness or fatigue despite profound weight loss.
• They may be preoccupied with food and may take pleasure in cooking and serving meals for others.
• They generally have constipation and are intolerant to cold. Patients are hypothermic and often wear more clothing than is environmentally appropriate.
• In severe cases, the bones protrude through the skin, as there is hardly any body fat.
• The skin may be dry and scaly.
• Palms may be yellow because of carotenaemia (high level of yellow pigment carotene in blood).
• Body hair is increased. Frank hirsutism (excessive growth of coarse hair in women).
• Oedema may be present.
• Parotid glands may be enlarged.