What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by weight loss (or lack of applicable weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an applicable weight for height, age, and stature; and, in several people, distorted body image. Individuals with eating disorder usually prohibit the quantity of calories and the sorts of food they eat. Some individuals with the disorder conjointly exercise obsessionally, purge via regurgitation and laxatives, and/or binge eat.

Anorexia will influence individuals of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, and ethnicities. Historians and psychologists have found proof of individuals displaying symptoms of eating disorder for a whole lot or thousands of years.

Although the disorder most often begins throughout adolescence, an increasing variety of youngsters and older adults also are being diagnosed with eating disorders. You can not tell if someone is scuffling with an eating disorder by gazing at them. Someone doesn't have to be compelled to be gaunt or lean to be troubled. Studies have found that larger-bodied people also can have eating disorders, though they'll be less likely to be diagnosed because of cultural prejudice against fat and obesity.

( NEDA,2021,Learn section )

There are two main subtypes of anorexia:

Restricting type: This is the most commonly known type of anorexia nervosa, whereby a person severely restricts their food intake. Restriction may take many forms (e.g. maintaining very low calorie count, restricting types of food eaten, eating only one meal a day) and may follow obsessive and rigid rules (e.g. only eating food of one colour).
Binge-eating or purging type: Less recognised, this type of anorexia nervosa forms when a person restricts their intake as above, but also has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behaviour (e.g. self-induced vomiting, over-exercise, misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas).

( Eatingdisorders.org, 2019 )

Signs & Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

Depression, anxiety, or irritability

Infrequent or irregular, or even missed menstrual periods in females

Laxative, diuretic, ordiet pill use

Frequent illness

Wearing loose clothing to hide weight loss

Compulsive exercising

Feeling worthless or hopeless

Social withdrawal

Intense fear of gaining weight

Strange eating habits or routines, such as eating in secret

Irritability

Insomnia

Reduced interest in sex

Feeling fat, even if underweight

Inability to realistically assess one's own body weight

Striving for perfection and being very self-critical

Undue influence of body weight or shape on self-esteem

Physical symptoms that develop over time, including: low tolerance of cold weather, brittle hair and nails, dry or yellowing skin, anemia, constipation, swollen joints, tooth decay, and a new growth of thin hair over the body

( Mayo Clinic, 2018 )

Untreated, anorexia nervosa can lead to:

Drop in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing ratesamaged organs, especially the heart, brain, and kidneys

Loss of hair

Irregular heart beat

Thinning of bones (osteoporosis)

Fluid-electrolyte imbalance

Death from starvation or suicide

( Webmd, 2020 )

When to see a doctor

Unfortunately, many people with anorexia don't want treatment, at least initially. Their desire to remain thin overrides concerns about their health. If you have a loved one you worry about, urge her or him to talk to a doctor.

If you're experiencing any of the problems listed above, or if you think you may have an eating disorder, get help. If you're hiding your anorexia from loved ones, try to find a person you trust to talk to about what's going on. You can find help under the links on our website.

( AWARE, 2021 )

Recovery

Anorexia is an incredibly serious mental illness and has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Extreme food restriction can lead to starvation, malnutrition and a dangerously low body weight — all of which are synonymous with a host of health problems. It is possible to recover from anorexia nervosa, even if a person has been living with the illness for many years. The path to recovery can be long and challenging, however, with the right team and support, recovery is possible. Some people may find that recovery brings new understanding, insights, and skills.