Untreated, anorexia nervosa can lead to: Damaged organs, especially the heart, brain, and kidneys. Drop in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rates. Loss of hair.

The Academy for Eating Disorders says that anorexia is a mental illness because: Anorexia causes emotional and cognitive problems that hinder the ability to complete everyday tasks. Restricting food intake, a telltale symptom of anorexia, has been shown to change brain structure, neurochemistry and metabolism.

In conclusion, anorexia nervosa can be considered a mental illness as much as an eating disorder. Through research and accounts of clinicians, anorexia has been found to alter both the body and mind of those are impacted by it.

Common signs and symptoms include loss of subcutaneous fat tissue, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia, impaired menstrual function, hair loss, and hypothermia. Such symptoms are present within our case. Numerous laboratory measures are affected, among them serum electrolyte levels and thyroid function.

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a morbid fear of obesity, a distorted body image, and restriction of intake relative to requirements, leading to a significantly low body weight. Diagnosis is clinical. Most treatment is with some form of psychologic and behavioral therapy.

Emotional and Cognitive changes: Depression, anxiety, irritability, increased mood fluctuations, intense and negative emotional reactions, decreased enthusiasm, reduced motivation, impaired concentration, problem solving and comprehension, increased rigidity, obsessional thinking and reduced alertness.

Patients with anorexia nervosa have altered brain function and structure there are deficits in neurotransmitters dopamine (eating behavior and reward) and serotonin (impulse control and neuroticism), differential activation of the corticolimbic system (appetite and fear), and diminished activity among the …

A medical professional determines a diagnosis by interviewing you about your history of symptoms. Sometimes a doctor will require a couple of medical tests to rule out possible physical ailments, but we cannot evaluate mental health itself through blood tests or other biometric data.