What is anorexia nervosa? – Types, Symptoms, Complications And More

Many of us wish we could look different or that we could fix something about ourselves, that’s only human but if concern about being thin has taken over your habits, thoughts, and life, you may have an eating disorder . When you have anorexia nervosa  the desire to lose weight becomes more important than anything else, you may even lose the ability to see yourself as you really are, but you are not alone and recovery is possible, with the right treatment and support. You can break the self-destructive pattern and regain your health and self-confidence.

What is anorexia nervosa?

The anorexia nervosa , known simply as anorexia, is a type of eating disorder and is also a psychological disorder, which is a condition that goes beyond concerns about obesity or diet out of control, a person with anorexia often Initially you start dieting to lose weight over time, weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control.

The drive to lose weight is actually secondary to concerns about control and / or fears related to the body itself, the individual continues the restrictive eating cycle, which becomes an obsession and, in this way, is similar to an addiction.

Many people with anorexia see themselves as overweight even though they are in fact underweight, if asked, they generally deny that they have an underweight problem and weigh themselves frequently, eating only small amounts and only certain foods. Some will exercise excessively, force themselves to vomit, or use laxatives to produce weight loss. Complications can include osteoporosis, infertility, and heart damage, among others. Women stop having menstrual periods.

Types of anorexia nervosa

Restriction anorexia

People with this type of anorexia place severe restrictions on the amount and type of food they eat, this could include: counting calories, skipping meals, restricting certain foods (such as carbohydrates) and following obsessive rules, such as eating foods of one color in particular.

These behaviors can be accompanied by excessive exercise.

Restrictive anorexia

People with this type of anorexia also impose restrictions on the food they eat but it is accompanied by bingeing or purging, compulsive bingeing involves feeling out of control and eating a large amount of food. So, a person ‘compensates’ for this food by purging the food through vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

These behaviors are physically and mentally unhealthy, and can even be life threatening. It is important to seek ongoing therapy and nutritional education for the treatment of anorexia nervosa.

What are the symptoms of anorexia nervosa?

Emotional and behavioral

• Dramatic weight loss.
• Layered dresses to hide weight loss or keep warm.
• Excessive preoccupation with weight, calories, fat grams, food, and diet.
• Refusing to eat certain foods, moving to restrictions against entire food categories (for example, no carbohydrates, etc.)
• Makes frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
• Suffering from abdominal pain, constipation, intolerance to cold, lethargy and / or excess energy.
• He denies being hungry.
• Develop food rituals (eg, eating to certain orders, chewing excessively, rearranging food on a plate).
• She always has excuses to avoid meals or situations that involve her.
• Need and desire to “burn” the calories consumed.
• Maintains an excessive and rigid exercise regimen, despite the weather, fatigue, illness, or injury.
• He withdraws from friends and usual activities and becomes more isolated, withdrawn, and reserved.
• Has limited social spontaneity.
• Resistant or unable to maintain a body weight appropriate for their age, height, and build.
• You have an intense fear of gaining weight or being “fat,” even though you are underweight.
• It has disturbed the experience of weight or body shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-assessment, or denial of the severity of low body weight.
• Post-puberty woman misses her menstrual period.
• Feels ineffective
• You have a great need for control.
• Show uncompromising thinking .
• You have restricted initiative and emotional expression too much.

Physical

• Stomach cramps, other non-specific gastrointestinal problems (constipation, acid reflux, etc.)
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Abnormal laboratory results (anemia, low thyroid and hormone levels, low potassium, slow blood count, slow heart rate).
• Dizziness.
• Fainting.
• Insomnia all the time.
• Menstrual irregularities: amenorrhea, irregular periods, or only having a period while using hormonal contraceptives (this is not considered a true period).
• Cuts and calluses on the upper part of the finger joints (as a result of the induction of vomiting).
• Dental problems, such as enamel erosion, cavities, and tooth sensitivity.
• Sensitive and dry skin.
• Dry and brittle nails.
• Swelling around the salivary gland area.
• Muscular weakness.
• Yellow skin (against the background of eating large amounts of carrots).
• Cold hands and feet accompanied by swelling.
• Poor wound healing.
• Impaired immune function.

What Causes Anorexia Nervosa?

The exact cause is not known, people who develop anorexia may have a negative body image, they may be focused on being “perfect”, they may be looking for ways to control their lives. Other factors such as biology, environment, and psychology are believed to play a role.

biology

Genetics and hormones could have an effect on the development of anorexia nervosa, some evidence suggests a link between it and serotonin, a chemical produced in the brain. Anorexia nervosa is highly inherited, twin studies have shown a heritability rate of between 28 and 58%. First-degree relatives of those who have it have about 12 times the risk of developing it.

Atmosphere

Pressure from society to look slim can also contribute to the development of anorexia, unrealistic body images from media such as magazines and television can greatly influence young people and provoke the desire to be slim.

Psychology

Early theories about the cause of anorexia linked it to child sexual abuse or dysfunctional families, the evidence is conflicting and well-designed research is needed. Fear of food is known as cybophobia, and it is part of the differential diagnosis. Other psychological causes include low self-esteem, feelings of lack of control, depression , anxiety, and loneliness.

A person with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) might be more predisposed to stick to a strict diet and exercise regimen than people with anorexia nervosa, this is because people with OCD are prone to obsessions and compulsions.

Sociology

The increase in anorexia nervosa has been linked to vulnerability and internalization of body ideals, people in activities or professions where there is a particular social pressure to be thin (such as models and dancers) are more likely to develop anorexia, and a much higher contact with cultural sources that promote weight loss.

This trend can also be observed for people who participate in certain sports, such as wrestlers. There is a higher incidence and prevalence of anorexia nervosa in sports, with an emphasis on aesthetics, where low body fat is advantageous, and sports in which one has to gain weight for competition. Family dynamics can play a role in the cause, as when people constantly feel pressured to be thin, teasing and bullying can lead to low self-esteem and other psychological symptoms.

How is anorexia nervosa diagnosed?

Your doctor will perform a physical exam to check your blood pressure and heart rate, they will also do a psychological exam or refer you to a mental health professional who will ask about your eating habits and feelings. They will look for any criteria that show that:

• You are restricting your food intake.
• You are afraid of gaining weight.
• You have body image problems.

Your doctor may order certain lab tests such as blood tests to check your electrolyte levels and liver and kidney function. In addition, it can monitor your bone density and detect heart irregularities. You can order other lab tests to rule out other possible causes of weight loss, such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

What treatment is effective for anorexia nervosa?

One of the biggest obstacles in treatment is realizing that you need help. Many with anorexia do not believe they have a problem and that can make treatment difficult.

The main goal is to restore your body to a normal weight and establish normal eating habits, a dietitian will help you learn to eat properly, your family may also be recommended to participate in therapy with you. For many people, anorexia nervosa is a lifelong challenge.

Therapy

You and your family must work hard to overcome anorexia, individual, family and group therapies are often an integral part of treatment.

Terapia individual

A form of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help change unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Its goal is to help you learn and deal with strong emotions and develop healthy self-esteem.

Family therapy

The family therapy involves family members to keep on track with your diet and healthy lifestyle and helps resolve conflicts within the family. It can create support for the family member to learn to cope with anorexia nervosa.

Group therapy

Group therapy allows people with anorexia to interact with other people who have the same disorder, but it can sometimes lead to thinner competition. To avoid that, it is important that you attend group therapy led by a qualified medical professional.

Medication

Although at this time there is no medication that demonstrates the treatment of anorexia nervosa, antidepressants may be prescribed to treat the anxiety and depression that are common in these people, which may make you feel better, but antidepressants do not decrease the desire for lose weight.

Hospitalization

Depending on the severity of your weight loss, your primary care provider may want to keep you in the hospital for a few days to treat the effects of your anorexia nervosa, you may have a feeding tube and IV fluids if your weight it is too low or if you are dehydrated. If you continue to refuse to eat or develop psychiatric problems, your doctor may have you admitted to the hospital for intensive treatment.

What are the complications?

They can affect the whole body system and be serious. Physical complications include:

• Cardiovascular problems: These include low heart rate, low blood pressure, and damage to the heart muscle.
• Blood problems: There is an increased risk of developing leukopenia, or low white blood cell count, and anemia, a low red blood cell count.
• Gastrointestinal problems: Movement in the intestines slows down significantly when a person is very underweight and eats very little, but this resolves when the diet improves.
• Kidney problems:  Dehydration can lead to highly concentrated urine and increased urine output, the kidneys generally recover as weight levels improve.
• Hormonal problems:  Lower levels of growth hormones can lead to delayed growth during adolescence. Normal growth resumes with a healthy diet.
• Bone fractures: Patients whose bones have not yet fully grown are at significantly increased risk of developing osteopenia or reduced bone tissue and osteoporosis or loss of bone mass.

About 1 in 10 cases are fatal, in addition to the physical effects of poor nutrition, there may be an increased risk of suicide , one in 5 deaths related to anorexia comes from suicide .

Diet vs anorexia nervosa

Although the restrictive eating patterns that characterize this anorexic eating disorder are similar to dieting behaviors, there are marked differences between the two. The effects of the extreme behaviors that result from this disease are far more devastating and consequential than any negative effects of diet.

While someone may diet in an attempt to control weight, anorexia nervosa is often an attempt to gain control over life and emotions, especially in light of traumatic events or a chaotic environment. While someone may diet in an attempt to lose weight as the primary goal, in anorexia they may diet because they perceive weight loss as a way to achieve happiness and self-control.

How can anorexia nervosa be prevented?

Although educating the public about the important health benefits of proper nutrition is generally beneficial, it has been found to be less specifically helpful in preventing eating disorders and other body image problems. The most effective approaches are believed to be the addition of education on the bias of media images towards excessive thinness as desirable, helping people internalize their own image, and health behaviors that are inconsistent with those of disorderly individuals. .