Anorexia nervosa is a complex mental health condition. It is treatable. If you are struggling, you might feel an intense fear of gaining weight. You may have a strong urge to restrict what and how much you eat. Your body image can become so distorted that even if you are underweight, you may still feel as though you are not. The drive for thinness and control over food can become overwhelming. This can come at a huge cost to your health and relationships. It’s important to remember that anorexia is not just about food or weight. It is often connected to perfectionism, feeling out of control, and deep emotional pain. Anorexia can affect anyone, regardless of age, background, or gender.
While some people with anorexia may appear very underweight, many do not. This is sometimes called atypical anorexia. In these cases, someone loses a significant amount of weight and is weight-suppressed compared to their own personal history, but may not be considered underweight by medical standards. The term ‘atypical anorexia’ can feel unhelpful or stigmatizing to many. In fact, this form is actually more common, and those affected experience the same distressing symptoms.
Some people experience binge/purge anorexia. While restriction remains the main feature, there can be times when it feels impossible to control hunger or the amount eaten. Afterward, purging behaviours like vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising excessively may be used to try to get rid of the food. Binges can involve large or small amounts of food. The person remains in a low-energy state and is very weight-suppressed for their personal history.
Anorexia is not a choice. It is a very serious condition and has one of the highest death rates of any mental health illness. No one chooses to live with relentless, intrusive thoughts about food and body image. No individual chooses to have a harsh inner critic that pushes them to the limit. No one would choose the physical, emotional, and relationship pain that comes with an eating disorder. Anyone who has experienced anorexia will tell you that they would not wish it on anyone.
One reason anorexia can be so hard to let go of is that it serves a purpose. For many people, anorexia develops as a way to cope with difficult emotions, anxiety, stress, trauma, or painful life events. Focusing on food, weight, and body shape, and following strict rules, can sometimes help distract from or manage overwhelming feelings. Over time, these coping strategies become more harmful and less effective. Recognising that anorexia has a protective purpose can help us respond with compassion to anyone who is afraid of letting go of their main way of coping.
Neurodiverse people can experience higher rates of eating disorders. Research indicates that approximately 37% of people with anorexia are also autistic.
Being LGBTQ+ is linked with increased risk for mental health problems, including anorexia. People who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming also have higher risks of atypical anorexia.
Athletes: Female athletes are estimated to be twice as likely as male athletes to experience eating disorder behaviors. This is especially true for sports that focus on body size and shape, such as swimming, gymnastics, ballet, and equestrian sports, including jockeys.
Anorexia is a mental illness. You cannot always tell if someone is struggling just by looking at them. Being aware of the signs helps someone get support as early as possible. Early intervention really does make a difference in recovery. If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or someone you care about, please reach out for help as soon as you can.
Symptoms of anorexia are emotional, behavioral, and physical. They all result from the body and brain not getting enough energy.
Behavioural and emotional symptoms are important warning signs of anorexia. These often show up as changes in how someone acts or feels, and can be just as significant as physical symptoms.
Anorexia does not have a singular cause; instead, it arises from a combination of factors that come together to contribute to its onset.
Genetics can play a role in eating disorders. Having a family member with an eating disorder appears to increase the risk, and research suggests a possible genetic link since identical twins are more likely than fraternal twins to both develop anorexia.
Recent research links anorexia to traits like perfectionism, low self-esteem, harm avoidance, heightened anxiety, and a strong desire for control. Sensitivity to rejection and dissatisfaction with body image also increase vulnerability.
Studies show that people with anorexia have altered levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine⁴. This affects appetite, mood, impulse control, and the brain reward systems. These neurological changes make someone more vulnerable to developing an eating disorder. They also make someone more likely to want to keep it.
Unrealistic beauty standards and constant societal messaging pressure people to look a certain way and conform to a body ideal. This can have a deep impact on how someone feels about their body, weight, and eating. Heightened body dissatisfaction is known to increase the risk of developing an eating disorder.
Trauma deeply affects the body’s stress response and emotional regulation. Controlling food, weight, and body shape can become a way to manage feelings.
Stressors like family dynamics, relationships, major life changes like puberty, and exposure to environments that emphasize slimness can trigger anorexia.
The first step towards recovery is recognizing that something is wrong and reaching out for help. While this can feel frightening, you do not have to face your eating disorder alone. There is no such thing as waiting until you feel ‘sick enough’ to ask for help. Everyone deserves support. The earlier you reach out, the sooner recovery can begin.
Recovery is a very personal journey. It will look different for every person. However, there are some basic pillars everyone needs to address to reach full recovery from anorexia.
Given the complexity of anorexia, the most effective way to recover is to work with a specialised multidisciplinary team. This means working with a medical doctor and dietitians in the treatment of eating disorders. Recovery coaches are also recognized as valuable members of the support team.
Even if you have lived with anorexia for many years, full recovery is possible. The journey can be extremely challenging, but with the right support and commitment, recovery can happen.
I believe in meeting people wherever they are, with all the uncertainty and challenges that come with real life. There is no judgment or checklist you need to complete before you deserve support—just genuine care and practical help. My focus is to help clients reconnect with their own values—the things that are most important to them—and their strengths. I also provide encouragement, accountability, and motivation to support necessary steps toward recovery. Because recovery is challenging, my coaching is tailored to your specific needs and situation. I am here to offer guidance, walk alongside you, and help you find hope and resilience, so you can rediscover life beyond the eating disorder.
At Healthy Self-Recovery, my coaching style is shaped by both my extensive training at the Carolyn Costin Institute and my own personal experience with an eating disorder. While living with and recovering from an eating disorder does not, on its own, qualify me to help others, the rigorous training I received at CCI does. My experience, however, has given me a profound level of understanding, compassion, and empathy that I bring to my work.
I offer a compassionate and non-judgmental space where you can build the confidence and trust needed to make positive changes. A key part of my approach is helping you reconnect with your values and rediscover what truly matters to you. There is a vibrant world beyond food, fear, and anxiety, and I am here to support you in finding it. I always strive to see and connect with the person behind the eating disorder, and to build a supportive, trusting relationship.
Don’t just take it from me – Clients who have worked with me say the following:
“Being recovered herself, Marianna’s insight and genuine understanding have been instrumental in my recovery and in helping me feel less alone and ashamed of my struggles. Knowing that I will always be met with unfeigned compassion and empathy whilst being appropriately challenged and encouraged has been one of the most impactful aspects of Marianna’s support.”
“From the first time I spoke to Marianna, she immediately put me at ease and I felt I could trust her… Marianna’s lived experience is similar to mine, and this really helps, as I feel she gets me, but also that she knows when the ED is popping up and needs to be challenged and called out. It also helps me begin to believe that full recovery is possible after many years of having an eating disorder. For so long, I have felt stuck and really struggled, but with Marianna’s help, I’m starting to see a shift in my thinking and how I can begin to change”.
It can be incredibly hard to recover from Anorexia on your own. The very first thing to do is to talk to someone you trust. This could be a member of your family, a friend, or a colleague. This may feel like an impossible step to take, and it will take courage, but isolating and keeping your struggles secret will only worsen the eating disorder. There is no shame in asking for help. The next step would be to reach out to your GP or family doctor and consider consulting a therapist, dietitian, or a certified eating disorder recovery coach.
People who suffer from anorexia believe that behaviours like restricting their food and over-exercising are completely logical, rational, and necessary. Even if medical professionals tell them otherwise. This is called egosyntonic, when someone believes the Anorexia is in line with their core values. Added to this, it is common for people with anorexia to suffer from a neurological symptom called Anosognosia, likely due to starvation-related changes to the brain. Anosognosia results in a lack of insight or an inability to comprehend the severity of one's illness. Both of these complicate recovery from anorexia as people are reluctant to acknowledge their disordered behaviours and are very ambivalent about change
Yes. Some people suffer from binge/ purge anorexia. Restriction is still the key element, but this is sometimes followed by an episode where they feel that they cannot control their hunger or how much they eat. After this a purging behaviour is engaged in (vomiting, misuse of laxatives, or over-exercising) to get rid of the food. Binges can be large or relatively small amounts of food, but the sufferer is in a low energy state and is very weight suppressed for their personal history.
Long-term effects of anorexia are serious and can be deadly. The longer someone suffers from anorexia, the more damaging the effects are on the body. The most common long-term effects are:
I hear of people all the time who have fully recovered from anorexia, myself included.
Some people believe they can change their behaviours, but will always have to live with the thoughts. From my own experience and from hearing the stories of many other recovered CCI coaches, I know this is not always the case. Recovery is not easy or quick, but with the right treatment, support, and your own commitment, it is possible.
Recovery from anorexia is a different journey for everyone, and some people may take longer than others. What is important to remember is that recovery is possible.
Anorexia gets worse the longer it is left untreated. The longer habits and behaviours have been in place, the harder it is to change them, but that is not to mean that if you have suffered from anorexia for a long time, you are not able to recover. It simply means it may take more time.
Feeling ambivalent about recovery is a completely normal and common experience. Part of you may want to be rid of anorexia and long for a life without it, but another part of you may be very frightened to let go of your eating disorder. These contradictory feelings are normal and part of the recovery cycle. Anorexia serves as an (unhelpful) way of coping with difficult situations, painful emotions, and challenges, so it is normal that the prospect of not having it is frightening.
Recovery from anorexia is never a straightforward journey. It is perfectly normal to slip up and even take a step back. A relapse does not mean you have failed at recovery; it simply is an opportunity to practice self-compassion, re-assess, learn what triggered you, and adjust course accordingly.
Everyone will have their own story of recovery and life afterwards, but people often report increased energy, the ability to be more focused and present in work, study, and activities, a deeper connection to friends and loved ones, and simply more mental space for other activities and opportunities.
If you’re ready to take the first step, Anorexia Nervosa Recovery can help you begin your journey toward healing and self-compassion. At Healthy Self Recovery, we provide personalized guidance, practical support, and a safe, non-judgmental space to work through challenges. Don’t wait—reach out today and start rediscovering the life beyond your eating disorder. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
As an Anorexia Nervosa Recovery coach at Healthy Self Recovery, I am committed to supporting you through every step of healing and helping you create meaningful, lasting change in your life. My services include personalized eating disorder recovery coaching sessions that explore the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors tied to your eating disorder, along with text support for moments when you need extra accountability or encouragement. Recovery can feel isolating, but I strive to provide a compassionate and consistent connection, helping you feel truly supported. I also offer meal support sessions, where you can safely challenge food rules and build practical skills, while I collaborate closely with your medical team to ensure your recovery plan aligns with your treatment goals. Together, we’ll design a plan that meets your unique needs, empowering you to embrace a life of freedom, confidence, and fulfillment beyond your eating disorder.
