Felicia Romeo

About the author: Felicia Romeo is a contributor to Education magazine.

Because anorexics often go to great lengths to hide their bodies and behavior and are usually in a state of denial, anorexia is often a difficult disease to detect. However, it is important to look for the early signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa. These include refusing to maintain a normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, holding an exaggerated perception of body size, excessive exercise, and, in women, loss of menstrual cycle. The earlier anorexic behavior is identified the more likely that intervention and treatment can be successful.

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental disorder, with onset occurring during adolescent years, which predominantly affects women in approximately 90 percent of the cases. The young girl who is psychologically vulnerable may be victim to this life-threatening disorder...