Less is known about the causes of anorexia in males, but some risk factors are the same as for females. These include certain occupational goals and increasing media emphasis on external appearance in men. Diagnosis Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is complicated by a number of factors. One is that the disorder varies somewhat in severity from patient to patient. A second factor is denial, which is regarded as an early sign of the disorder.
Most anorexics deny that they are ill and are usually brought to treatment by a family member.
Most anorexics are diagnosed by pediatricians or family practitioners. Anorexics develop emaciated bodies, dry or yellowish skin, and abnormally low blood pressure. The patient may feel chilly or have developed lanugo, a growth of downy body hair. The second step in diagnosis is measurement of the patient's weight loss. Persons with this condition sometimes vomit after meals because the blood supply to the intestine is blocked.