Those who are suffering with this illness experience low self-esteem and are often compelled to control their surroundings and emotions. Anorexia is a unique reaction to a variety of external and internal conflicts, such as stress, anxiety, unhappiness and feeling like life is out of control.

Many sufferers feel they do not deserve pleasure in life, and deprive themselves of such experiences, including eating. Ironically, by restricting food intake, there is often a powerful sense of control and pleasure.  In this way not eating can become a habit.

The person suffering with Anorexia may be abnormally sensitive about being seen as fat, or have an obsessive fear of becoming fat.

Some of the behavioural signs can be:
 

• obsessive exercise
• calorie and fat gram counting
• starvation and restriction of food
• self-induced vomiting
• the use of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to control weight
• constant concern with body image