Anorexia Nervosa – Eating Disorder
By John Reed on Apr 20, 2009 with Comments 0
Today anorexia nervosa has become one of the most widespread eating disorder in which a person has an extreme dread of putting on weight and a constant pursuit to slim down the body. They take extreme measures to restrict their eating so that their body reaches a dangerously low body weight. The individual continues this ongoing cycle starving the body of the proper nutrients regardless of the fact that their body image is becoming distorted and they look emaciated. Initially to lose extra pounds a person starts the quest of dieting but then it becomes an out of control situation. The more the weight lost the more the obsession of dieting, over-exercising, fasting and weight loss increases. It is a psychological disorder as despite being severely thin anorexics visualize a fat person when they look at their reflection in the mirror.
Our society is mainly to blame for this as today slenderness is the expression for beauty and success. This plays a powerful role in development of anorexia mainly in the teenage girls. There are other causes which contribute to anorexia. They are:
- Psychological cause like perfectionism and a fear of failure
- Family pressures and environment
- Traumatic events like puberty, or divorce
- Social pressures like participating in gymnastics or modeling
- Genetic makeup and heredity of eating disorders
- Hormonal imbalance in the brain
- Low sense of worth
- Sexual abuse during childhood
- Stress and depression
- Dieting
People with anorexia will never acknowledge that they are suffering from this disease. They try to hide their condition but the signs soon start becoming apparent. These can be the following:
- Rebuffing food
- Obsession with calories, food portions and labels
- Endlessly pondering on food and meal planning
- Persistently dieting despite having a low body weight
- Checking weight once or twice a day
- Fanatical about body shape and clothing sizes
- Over-exercising
- Increased used of laxatives
- Vomiting after eating
- Sleeplessness
- Bone loss
- Dry and yellow skin
- Headaches, fainting fits and giddiness
- Loss of hair
- A feeling of cold always enveloping the body
- Constipation
- Osteoporosis
- Heart problems
- Depression
- Tooth decay
- Suicidal thoughts
This devastating condition can be successfully treated. A team of physicians, psychologist and dietitians are involved. Dangerously thin anorexics have to be hospitalized to prevent further starvation, suicidal fits or if the patient is in medical danger. Restoration of the normal body weight is the target of the therapy. This involves nutritional counseling so that the anorexic follows a proper meal plan and balanced diet. Psychological counseling is also an important factor to help the anorexic deal with their relationship problems and reduce their stress level. Family members play an important role in the treatment as their support bolsters the self-esteem of the anorexic.
For anorexics weight loss is the key to the door of happiness. Their self-esteem is based on the pounds of weight that they have lost. To them weight loss is the major concern. They give a backseat to health. Many anorexics feel that the self starvation is a way to control their body. They have a very negative self- image. But fortunately recovery is possible with treatment that can break anorexia’s self-starvation pattern which is causing them emotional pain and is damaging their physical health.
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