Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder affected by complex mixture of social, physical and psychological problems.


The four major characteristics are:

• An intense drive for thinness.
  
• An intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
  
• A disturbance in body image.
  
• In women- a cessation of the menstrual cycle (amenorrhea) for at least three months.
  
• In men- a decreased sexual drive.
  

Some important facts about Anorexia nervosa:

• There are two types of anorexia nervosa: restrictive and binge eating/purging.
  
• It typically develops in early to mid-adolescents.
  
• It affects about 1 in 2400 adolescents.
  
• 90-95 percent of individuals with anorexia nervosa are female.
  
• It is usually preceded by dieting behavior.
  
• Psychological problems are displaced onto food.
  
• Unusual food behaviors are practiced.
  
• Need to vicariously enjoy food by cooking it, serving it or being around it is common.
  
• Preoccupation with body weight and image.
  
• Dieting becomes increasingly important.
  
• Denial of the condition can be extreme.
  
• Body image disturbance (misperception of body size and shape) is common.
  
• Pronounced emotional changes are common.
  
• One-third of anorexics subsequently develop Bulimia Nervosa..
  

Anorexia Nervosa - Warning Signs


Anorexia nervosa is an emotional "weight loss" disorder characterized by physical, social and psychological symptoms. Weight loss is achieved by a variety of obsessive behaviors. Most individuals with this disorder strongly deny it. A feeling of control is gained by severely
restricting the amount of food eaten and the ability to do without food is viewed as success in attempting to cope with life's stresses.



Because early detection is important to successful recovery, it is important to recognize the common warning signs of Anorexia nervosa.

• Significant or extreme weight loss with no known medical illness.
  
• Reduction in food intake.
  
• Ritualistic eating habits such as cutting up meat into extremely small bites or chewing every bite excessively.
  
• Denies hunger.
  
• Critical and intolerant of others.
  
• Exercises excessively.
  
• Chooses low to no fat and low calorie foods.
  
• Says he/she is too fat, even when this is not true.
  
• Practices highly self-controlled behavior.
  
• Hides feelings.
  

Anorexia Nervosa - Medical Consequences



Anorexia nervosa is intentional starvation that deprives the body of protein and prevents the normal metabolism of fat. In an effort to protect itself, the body slows down.

• The heart muscle changes and its beat becomes irregular. The ultimate result can be heart failure that results in death.
  
  
• Menstruation often stops, even before extensive weight loss. This is called amenorrhea.
  
  
• Dehydration, kidney stones and kidney failure may result.
  
  
• A fine body hair, called lanugo, develops on the arms and can even cover the face.
  
  
• Muscles atrophy or waste away, resulting in weakness and lost muscle function.
  
  
• Delayed gastric emptying caused by a lack of energy and slowed body function results in bowel irritation and constipation.
  
  
• Loss of bone calcium leads to osteoporosis.