Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder which can prove to be fatal. It is characterised by excessive weight loss together with a warped image of one's body. It most usually affects teenage girls and young women, although it can strike much younger and affect either sex.
The main symptoms may include:
- An obssessive fear of weight gain or of being overweight, even though underweight.
- Generally weighing more than 15% under the recommended weight for their height and build.
- Body dysmorphia - seeing oneself as being fat when one is actually underweight.
- The anorexia nervosa sufferer will employ several self-induced tactics to lose weight including abuse of diet pills, laxatives, vomiting and taking excessive exercise.
- In women the hormone imbalances caused by the lack of food may result in the loss of the monthly periods.
What causes anorexia?
The precise cause of anorexia is unknown, although it is likely that environmental factors play a big part in the disease. For example, it is more common amongst girls where there is a requirement for them to be slim, such as amongst models. The disease is primarily found only in the developed world.
Stressful situations may trigger the onset of the disease in susceptible individuals, such as the death of a family member, being dumped by a boyfriend for a slimmer girl, the onset of puberty and a range of other similar triggers. Teenagers are very susceptible to responding to how they think they are perceived by others, and a chance remark may be all it takes to trigger the disease.
How is it treated?
A number of treatments are available, which are designed to restore a healthy weight and encourage healthy eating. Treatments include psychotherapy by a psychiatrist who has experience in treating eating disorders, treatment with antidepressants and, in severe cases, hospitalisation. Sometimes the whole family will take part in therapy sessions to help the person affected.
What are the effects of anorexia on the body?
Anorexia can affect many parts of the body in a number of ways, some of which are detailed below:
- the brain - loss of logical thought processes, changes in brain chemistry, mood changes, depression, obsessions.
- the hair - becomes brittles and can fall out
- the heart - low blood pressure, decreased heart rate, ultimately heart failure
- blood - anaemia leading to tiredness
- muscles - loss of muscle tone and weakness
- joints - osteoporis, swelling of the joints
- kidneys - kidney stones and kidney failure
- hormonal imbalances, causing loss of periods, growth problems, reduced fertility. If pregnant, the baby may be born with a reduced birth weight. Post natal depression is also more likely.
- the skin can become dry and sallow, it may bruise easily. Nails can become brittle and break.