Anorexia Nervosa or Anorexia is a psychological and potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight.
Women and men who experience the ill effects of this eating disorder epitomize a fixation with a thin figure and abnormal eating patterns. Because of this, they begin to put in extreme efforts that tend to significantly meddle with their lifestyle.
To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, people with anorexia usually seriously limit the quantity of their food intake.
They may even try to control the amount of calorie intake by forcibly vomiting after eating or by abusing purgatives, enemas, diet aids, and diuretics. In a similar way, they may also try to lose weight by exercising vigorously.
Major Types of Anorexia
- Binge/Purge Type – The patient suffering from this type of eating disorder will often purge after eating in order to ameliorate the fear of gaining weight. It also helps to counterbalance some of the guilt of having ingested food that was otherwise in their minds forbidden or highly restricted. The compensatory purge behavior by the person suffering from Binge/Purge type anorexia may be achieved by exercising vigorously, forcible vomiting or misusing laxatives.
- Restrictive– Patients suffering from restrictive type anorexia are frequently identified as highly self-disciplined. This is a tragic form of self-starvation. They limit the quantity of food intake, calorie consumption by avoiding high fat or high sugar foods. (know more: SUGAR: IS IT GOOD OR BAD?) They devour far lesser calories than are essential requirements of the body to maintain a healthy weight.
Anorexia risk factors:
Various risk factors are associated with this eating disorder whether it be a genetic predisposition, personality traits, or environmental factors.
Biological factors include
- Genetic or hereditary causes
- Irregular hormone levels and functioning
Environmental factors include
- Stereotypical consideration of thinness as “ideal”.
- Certain careers and professions that promote being thin and require you to reduce weight in order to suit their idea of “perfection”. Some examples of such professions include ballet dancing, acting, and modeling.
- Past history of family and childhood trauma: like childhood sexual abuse, severe trauma or depression of any kind.
- Peer pressure among co-workers and friends to be thin (as that is considered more attractive!).
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Anorexia Signs and Symptoms
The physical signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are similar to that of starvation. Anorexia additionally incorporates emotional and behavioral issues involving an unrealistic, unreasonable perception of body weight and an exceptionally strong fear of becoming fat or putting on weight.
Physical signs and symptoms of anorexia may include
- Appearance: thin individual
- Extreme weight loss or not gaining weight
- Eroded teeth and calluses on the knuckles from induced vomiting
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or fainting
- Dehydration and hypotension
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Insomnia
- Dry or yellowish skin
- Bluish discoloration of the fingers
- Hair that thins, breaks or falls out
- Soft, downy hair covering the body
- Absence of menstruation
- Swelling of arms or legs
- Cold intolerance
- Irregular heart rhythms
Behavioral symptoms
- Bingeing followed by self-induced vomiting to get rid of food, which may include abusing laxatives, enemas or herbal products.
- Exercising vigorously
- Rigorously limiting the quantity of food intake through fasting or dieting
Emotional symptoms
- Skipping meals or refusing to eat
- Cooking elaborate meals for others but not eating them
- Repetitively checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
- Denying being hungry or making excuses for not eating
- Not wanting to eat in public
- Eating only a few certain “safe” foods which are low in fat and calories
- Lying about eating food or spitting food out after chewing
- Fear of gaining weight evident by checking weight or measuring the body repetitively
- Irritability and social withdrawal
- Lack of emotion
Anorexia Complications
Anorexia can have numerous complications and can even be fatal. These include:
- Sudden death- Due to abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or an imbalance of electrolytes and minerals like potassium, sodium, and calcium that maintains the fluid balance of the body.
- Anemia
- Loss of muscle
- Osteoporosis- Bone loss increases the risk of fractures
- Decreased testosterone levels in males
- Amenorrhoea in females
- Gastrointestinal disorders like nausea, constipation, bloating, etc
Additionally, patients suffering from anorexia also commonly have other mental health disorders as well like:
- Anxiety and other mood disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders
- Personality disorders
- Depression
- Self-injury, suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
- Alcohol and substance misuse.
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