This comparison is to show further evidence that "Adrenal Fatigue" is not a real condition, but a misdiagnosis of malnutrition/starvation due to prolonged calorie-restriction, such as accidental under-eating, or eating disorders, like anorexia & bulimia.

All the alleged symptoms of "AF" can be caused or explained by starvation/calorie-restriction.

Since every website promoting "AF" lists different symptoms, I picked a list that seemed to have the majority of symptoms listed on various other sites. If anyone thinks I left off key "AF" symptoms, post the alleged symptom and each will be addressed.


Some of the alleged symptoms of so-called "Adrenal Fatigue":

1. Excessive fatigue and exhaustion, chronic fatigue
2. Non-refreshing sleep
3. Sleep disturbance, insomnia
4. Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope
5. Craving salty and/or sweet foods
6. Sensitivity to light
7. Low stamina and slow to recover from exercise
8. Slow to recover from injury or illness
9. Difficulty concentrating, brain fog
10. Poor digestion
11. Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS
12. Low immune function
13. Premenstrual syndrome
14. Menopause symptoms
15. Low blood pressure
16. Sensitivity to cold
17. Fearfulness
18. Allergies,
19. Frequent influenza
20. Arthritis
21. Anxiety
22. Irritability
23. Depression
24. Reduced memory
25. Low libido, sexual drive or interest
26. Lack of lust for life and/or food
27. Excess hunger
28. Low appetite
29. Panic/anxiety attacks
30. Irritability, impatience, quick to anger.

http://selfadjustingtechnique.com/30-symptoms-of-adrenal-fatigue/


Symptoms of malnutrition/starvation:

1. Fatigue (1)(6), bulimia and anorexia, have been observed in patients with Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome (A)
2. Non-refreshing sleep, hypothroidism & eating disorders (P), Unrefreshing sleep, CFS, & eating disorders (A)
3. Insomnia (1)
4. Fear of not being able to cope or feeling overwhelmed are common among people with anorexia or bulimia (N)
5. Low sodium & glucose in Anorexics (O)
6. Increased sensitivity to light (B)
7. Malnutrition, longer recovery time, decreased stamina (M), Wasting away of muscle and loss of body fat (3)
8. Malnutrition, anorexia, slower immune response, increases the length of time that it takes to recover from infection (D)(6), delayed wound healing, a longer recovery time (M)
9. Poor concentration (6), Confused or slow thinking (3)(4)
10. Stomach problems, including bloating after eating (4), Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, abdominal pain (5)
11. Eating Disorders may increase the risk of developing IBS (C)
12. Frequent illness (2), Malnutrition, anorexia, slow immune response, & increased risk getting infections (D)
13. PMS Symptoms & eating disorders (E), PMDD may be associated with eating disorders (F)
14. Anorexia can cause menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes, slow metabolism (G), Irregular periods, Sleep problems, Mood changes, Thinning hair and dry skin (1)
15. Low blood pressure (1), Dizziness or fainting (1)
16. Intolerance of cold (1)(6)
17. Phobias & Panic Disorder (4), Anxiety (2)
18. Connections between eating disorders and food allergies (H), Dr. L Wilson: conditions possibly related to food allergies are bulimia, anorexia (I)
19. Frequent illness (2)
20. Anorexia present in many types of inflammatory arthritis; Malnutrition in Rheumatoid Arthritis (J)
21. Anxiety (2)
22. Irritability (1)(6)
23. Depression (1)(6), Feeling worthless or hopeless (2)
24. Poor memory or judgment (3)(4)
25. Reduced interest in sex (1)
26. Social withdrawal (1), disinterest in food into anorexia (L)
27. Excess hunger (K)
28. Low appetite (4)(6)
29. Panic/anxiety attacks (4)
30. Irritability (1)

Sources:

(1) http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/symptoms/con-20033002
(2) http://www.webmd.boots.com/mental-health/mental-health-anorexia-nervosa
(3) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000362.htm
(4) http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/eating-disorders
(5) http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/condition/bulimia-nervosa
(6) http://www.drugs.com/cg/malnutrition.html
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Malnutrition/Pages/Symptoms.aspx


(A) "Patients with Chronic-Fatigue-Syndrome must meet the following criteria: Unrefreshing sleep
Eating disorders, notably bulimia and anorexia, have been observed in patients with CFS. The conditions often have overlapping risk factors, although it is unclear whether one causes the other."
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/chronic-fatigue-syndrome

(B) "Malnutrition Symptoms: Visual disturbances include night blindness and increased sensitivity to light and glare."
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/malnutrition

(C) "Eating disorders and irritable bowel syndrome: is there a link? RESULTS: Sixty-four percent currently met the widely used Manning criteria for IBS. The majority of participants (87%) had developed their ED before the onset of IBS, CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings suggest that EDs may increase the risk of developing IBS."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16185999

(D) "Who is affected by malnutrition?
- people with chronic (long-term) disorders - for example, eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia,
Typical adverse effects of malnutrition include: slower immune response which increases the risk of getting infections, and increases the length of time that it takes to recover from infection"
http://www.nursingtimes.net/whats-new-in-nursing/malnutrition/5001811.article#

(E) "Causes of PMS Symptoms but No Period: Inappropriate diet or eating disorder that results in nutritional deficiencies affecting hormonal function"
http://www.md-health.com/Pms-Symptoms-But-No-Period.html

(F) "PMDD may be associated with eating disorders"
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder/overview.html

(G) "Hot flashes can be hormonal...It can also be due to other causes, such as eating disorders"
http://www.healthline.com/health/menopause/hot-flash-causes

(G) "Certain illnesses, such as anorexia nervosa, can cause hot flashes."
http://www.drnorthrup.com/womenshealth/healthcenter/topic_details.php?topic_id=130

(G) Anorexia & Slow Metabolism
http://www.livestrong.com/article/400430-anorexia-slow-metabolism

(H) "There are several physical, mental and emotional connections between eating disorders and food allergies ."
http://ibstreatmentcenter.com/2012/05/eating-disorders-and-food-allergies-2.html

(I) "Still more conditions possibly related to food allergies are bulimia, anorexia"
http://drlwilson.com/articles/food_intolerance.htm

(J) "Systemic symptoms: weight loss, fever and anorexia are present in many types of inflammatory arthritis."
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Rheumatological-History-Examination-and-Investigations.htm

(J) Malnutrition in Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3442963

(K) "Eating disorders like bulimia cause excessive hunger. Hypoglycemia or low blood Sugar is another reason why you feel excessively hungry. Hypoglycemia symptoms such as hunger, fatigue, headache, cold sweats, confusion and mild tremors can be caused by over-exercising and not eating enough carbohydrates, starvation dieting"
http://health.india.com/diseases-conditions/suffer-from-excessive-hunger-12-reasons-you-need-to-take-it-more-seriously/

(L) "a portion of the depressed population will instead lose interest in food...some individuals in melancholy states will find themselves over the border from a disinterest in food into anorexia"
http://www.ehow.com/about_5426509_eating-disorders-caused-depression.html

(M) "Malnutrition and wound healing: Hospital malnutrition occurs in a majority of surgical patients and contributes to delayed wound healing, a longer recovery time, increased morbidity and mortality rates, an increased infection rate, and decreased stamina."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3276649

(N) "A fear of not being able to cope or feeling overwhelmed are common among people with anorexia or bulimia."
http://www.merlinhelpsstudents.com/lifestyle/betterliving/anorexianervosaandbulimianervosa.asp

(O) "Anorexia Nervosa: guide to the assessment of medical risk for eating disorders; Blood tests: low potassium, sodium, magnesium or phosphate. Low albumin or glucose."
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/anorexia-nervosa

(P) "If you're still tired in the morning or all day after a full night's sleep, that's a clue that your thyroid may be underactive."
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/08/29/1-signs-your-thyroid-isnt-working-right/

(P) "Medical Conditions Associated with Hypothyroidism: Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. In these patients, reduced thyroid function may be an adaptation to malnutrition."
http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/hypothyroidism