What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological and possibly life-threatening eating disorder defined by an extremely low body weight relative to stature (this is called BMI [Body Mass Index] and is a function of an individual’s height and weight), extreme and needless weight loss, illogical fear of weight gain, and distorted perception of self-image and body.

Additionally, women and men who suffer with anorexia nervosa exemplify a fixation with a thin figure and abnormal eating patterns. Anorexia nervosa is interchangeable with the term anorexia, which refers to self-starvation and lack of appetite.

Causes of Anorexia

Anorexia is not a simple disorder. It has many symptoms and effects, and its causes are complex as well. Currently, it is thought that anorexia nervosa develops as a result of multiple factors, both biological and environmental.

Examples of environmental factors that would contribute to the occurrence of anorexia nervosa are:

The effects of the thinness culture in media, that constantly reinforce thin people as ideal stereotypes
* Professions and careers that promote being thin and weight loss, such as ballet and modeling
* Family and childhood traumas: childhood sexual abuse, severe trauma
* Peer pressure among friends and co-workers to be thin or be sexy.
Examples of biological factors include:

* Irregular hormone functions

* Genetics (the tie between anorexia and one’s genes is still being heavily researched, but we know that genetics is a part of the story).

* Nutritional deficiencies

Anorexia Signs & Symptoms

An individual suffering from anorexia nervosa may reveal one or several signs and symptoms such as:

*Chronic dieting despite being hazardously underweight

*Obsession with calories and fat contents of food

* Engaging in ritualistic eating patterns, such as cutting food into tiny pieces, eating alone, and/or hiding food

* Continued fixation with food, recipes, or cooking; the individual may cook intricate meals for others but refrain from partaking

*Amenorrhea: an abnormal absence of menstruation, or loss of 3 consecutive menstrual cycles

*Depression or lethargic stage

*Development of lanugo: soft, fine hair that grows on face and body

*Reported sensation of feeling cold, particularly in extremities

*Loss or thinning of hair

* Avoidance of social functions, family and friends. May become isolated and withdrawn

Treatment
* Medical: The highest priority in the treatment of anorexia nervosa is addressing any serious health issues that may have resulted from malnutrition, such as an unstable heart beat.

* Nutritional: This component encompasses weight restoration, implementation and supervision of a tailored meal plan, and education about normal eating patterns.

* Therapy: The goal of this part of treatment is to recognize underlying issues associated with the eating disorder, address and heal from traumatic life events, learn healthier coping skills and further develop the capacity to express and deal with emotions.