What Teachers Should Know Anorexia is an eating disorder that makes people extremely afraid of gaining weight and gives them a distorted view of their body shape and size. These fears and misperceptions can lead them to restrict how much food they eat through dieting, fasting, and exercising excessively. Some students with anorexia may eat a lot of food (binge eat) and then get rid of the calories by forcing themselves to vomit (purge). About 95% of the nearly 24 million Americans with eating disorders are between 12 and 25 years old, and 1 or 2 of every 100 students struggles with an eating disorder. About 90% of people with anorexia are female. Many experts believe that anorexia is caused by a combination of psychological, genetic, and social factors. Anorexia can make the body go into starvation mode, and this lack of nutrition can result in: drops in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rate hair loss, broken fingernails, swollen joints, and brittle bones halting of menstrual periods anemia Anorexia can cause dehydration and other complications, like heart problems or kidney failure. In extreme cases, anorexia can cause severe malnutrition and even death. Students with anorexia may: appear thin, frail, and emaciated act withdrawn, depressed, or anxious around classmates feel self-conscious about their appearance talk obsessively about dieting be lethargic or irritable, and feel cold feel a need to exercise as much as possible miss class time and assignments due to complications associated with anorexia need support from a school counselor or school nurse for symptoms associated with anorexia What Teachers Can Do Early detection is the best way to successfully treat eating disorders such as anorexia. If you know or suspect that a student has anorexia, it is important to refer him or her for assistance. The school counselor or school nurse can help. In your classroom, maintain an atmosphere that promotes health and wellness without focusing on weight. Demonstrating healthy attitudes about food, exercise, and body image can help set a good example for your students. Back to Articles Related Articles Did My Period Stop Because of Too Much Exercise? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Compulsive Exercise Compulsive exercise can lead to serious health problems. Lots of people don't know when they've crossed the line from healthy activity to unhealthy addiction. Read about ways to tell. Read More Compulsive Exercise Even though exercise has many positive benefits, too much can be harmful. Teens who exercise compulsively are at risk for both physical and psychological problems. Read More A to Z: Anorexia Nervosa Learn about anorexia nervosa, a type of eating disorder. Read More How Can I Feel Better About My Body? It's normal to wish you could change something about your body. Find out more about these feelings in this article for kids. Read More Body Image and Self-Esteem When your body changes, so can your image of yourself. Find out how your body image affects your self-esteem and what you can do. Read More Encouraging a Healthy Body Image A healthy and positive body image means liking your body, appreciating it, and feeling grateful for its qualities and capabilities. Parents can help kids develop a healthy body image. Read More Eating Disorders Eating disorders are so common in America that 1 or 2 out of every 100 students will struggle with one. Find out more. Read More A Guy's Guide to Body Image Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to appearance. But guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. And some worry just as much as girls do about their looks. Read More Eating Disorders Eating disorders are common among teens and kids, especially young women. Read about the warning signs, prevention strategies, and ways to help a child with an eating disorder. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.