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Archive for the ‘Anorexia Nervosa’ Category

One of the most common eating disorders is called anorexia nervosa. In short, it leads women to lose extreme amounts of weight until they are basically a skeleton with skin around it. This disease has claimed the lives of many women and it is important to be aware of the symptoms so that if you see them exhibited in either yourself, your friends, or members of your family you seek help immediately to help stave off this harmful eating disorder. Below are some of the most common symptoms of anorexia nervosa and if you begin to notice these and others it is important to seek professional help immediately.

Anorexia nervosa is an illness that affects mostly teenage girls, but cases of anorexia have been encountered at elder women and men also. In short words, those with anorexia intentionally starve themselves in order to lose weight, and the main problem is that they continue to starve themselves even after losing a lot of weight, which greatly endangers their health and can lead them to die of starvation eventually, if they are not stopped.

Our daily definition of this condition often overlooks the actual psychological part of the condition which is often times the greatest factor. Medical professionals are still not able to completely characterize the causes of anorexia, and as such are the subject of debate in several instances. Generally we have been able to agree that it is both physiological and psychological.

Causes of Anorexia nervosa

The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is not known. Traumatic events like rape as well as stressful things like starting a new job, can lead to the onset of anorexia. Genes, hormones, and chemicals in the brain may be factors in developing anorexia. Eating disorders also tend to run in families, with female relatives most often affected. A girl has a 10 to 20 times higher risk of developing anorexia nervosa, for instance, if she has a sibling with the disease. Behavioral and environmental influences may also play a role. Stressful events are likely to increase the risk of eating disorders as well.

Obviously, one of the most visible signs of this disorder is the excessive weight loss that comes with self starvation. The sufferers of this illness severely restrict their intake of food and suffer great anxiety at the thought of losing control of their weight. The thought of becoming fat creates incredible stress for them. Health professionals believe that anorexia nervosa is more closely related to low self esteem and feelings of worthlessness than it is to actual food and weight.

Common symptoms are :-

* weight loss about 18% or greater
* Inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics (water pills) in an effort to lose weight
* Self-imposed food intake restrictions, often hidden
* Absence of menstruation
* Skeletal muscle atrophy
* Loss of fatty tissue in the body
* Low blood pressure common in all
* Dental cavities may be present with self-induced vomiting
* Blotchy or yellow skin on hole body
* Depression may be present
* Most individuals with anorexia nervosa refuse to recognize that they have an eating disorder.

Anorexics often develop bizarre eating practices and they usually refuse to eat in other people’s company. Some of these anorexics will eat a full meal, and then afterwards, force themselves to vomit everything they have consumed. Most of them limit themselves to less than 500 calorie intake per day while refusing any kind of food with fat or sugar in it. These anorexics also have a tendency to overuse laxatives or water pills so that they won’t gain even a quarter of a pound of weight.

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Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder as well as a psychological disorder. Anorexia is a condition that goes beyond dieting and the signs of anorexia can be hard to interpret and understand. A person with anorexia symptoms might initially start dieting to lose weight. With anorexic people losing weight turns into an issue concerning the control or fears relating to one’s body.
A Family Member has an Eating Disorder
If you have a family member that with an Eating Disorder, they need a lot of support. Suggest that your family member see an eating disorder expert. Be prepared for denial, resistance, and even anger. A doctor and/or a counselor can help them battle their eating disorder.
What causes anorexia nervosa?
At this time, no definite cause of anorexia nervosa has been determined. However, research within the medical and psychological fields continues to explore possible causes. Some experts feel that demands from society and families could possibly be underlying causes for anorexia. For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive. A poor self-image compounds the problem.
Girls with anorexia usually stop having menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food.
What are the common symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
The hallmark of anorexia nervosa is a preoccupation with food and a refusal to maintain minimally normal body weight. One of the most frightening aspects of the disorder is that people with anorexia nervosa continue to think they look fat even when they are bone-thin. Their nails and hair become brittle, and their skin may become dry and yellow. Depression is common in patients suffering from this disorder. People with anorexia nervosa often complain of feeling cold (hypothermia) because their body temperature drops. They may develop lanugo (a term used to describe the fine hair on a new born) on their body.
How is anorexia treated?
Treatment will vary depending on the individual circumstances. There is no one single treatment that has proven to be effective in all cases. Treatment aims to:
* restore the person to a healthy weight.
* restore healthy eating patterns.
* treat any physical complications or associated mental health problems.
Outpatient treatment can be conducted on either or both of cognitive behavioral psychotherapeutic lines or dynamic psychotherapeutive lines. It is vital to set up a therapeutic alliance. Individual psychotherapy is better than family therapy if the patient has left home and vice versa.