What is Anorexia Nervosa?
It is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight.To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, people with anorexia usually severely restrict the amount of food they eat. They may control calorie intake by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas. They may also try to lose weight by exercising excessively.
What are the symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa (Eating Disorder) ?
Physical Symptoms :
- Thin appearance
- Abnormal blood counts
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Dizziness or fainting
- Absence of menstruation
- Constipation and abdominal pain
- Irregular heart rhythms
- Dehydration
- Swelling of arms or legs
Behavioral symptoms :
- Severely restricting food intake through dieting or fasting
- Exercising excessively
- Self-induced vomiting to get rid of food
Emotional symptoms :
- Preoccupation with food
- Frequently skipping meals or refusing to eat
- Denial of hunger or making excuses for not eating
- Eating only a few certain "safe" foods, usually those low in fat and calories
- Not wanting to eat in public
- Fear of gaining weight that may include repeated weighing or measuring the body
- Complaining about being fat or having parts of the body that are fat
- Flat mood (lack of emotion)
- Social withdrawal
- Irritability
- Insomnia
What are the Causes of Anorexia Nervosa (Eating Disorder)
- Biological: There may be genetic changes that make some people at higher risk of developing anorexia and genetic tendency toward perfectionism, sensitivity and perseverance.
- Psychological : Some people with anorexia may have obsessive-compulsive personality traits that make it easier to stick to strict diets. And they may have high levels of anxiety and engage in restrictive eating to reduce it.
- Environmental : Modern Western culture emphasises thinness.Peer pressure may help fuel the desire to be thin, particularly among young girls.
What are Complications Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia complication, the most severe, can be fatal. Death may occur suddenly, even when someone is not severely underweight due to:
-Anaemia
-Heart problems, abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure
-Bone loss (osteoporosis), increasing the risk of fractures
-Loss of muscle
-In females, absence of a period
-In males, decreased testosterone
-Kidney problems
-Depression, anxiety and other mood disorders
-Personality disorders
-Obsessive-compulsive disorders
-Alcohol and substance misuse
-Self-injury, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
If you notice that a family member or friend has low self-esteem, severe dieting habits and dissatisfaction with appearance, consider talking to them about these issues. Although you may not be able to prevent an eating disorder from developing, you can talk about healthier behavior or treatment options.