Definition :
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which a person refuses to stay at even the minimum body weight considered normal for their age and height. Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain and a distorted body image. Inadequate eating or excessive exercising results in severe weight loss.
Cause :
The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is not known, but social attitudes towards body appearance, as well as family factors, are believed to play a role.
Anorexia nervosa usually occurs in adolescence or young adulthood. It is more common in females. The eating disorder is seen mainly in Caucasian women who are high academic achievers and have a goal-oriented family or personality.
Some experts have suggested that conflicts within a family may contribute to this eating disorder. It is thought that anorexia is a way for a child to draw attention away from marital problems, for example, and bring the family back together.
Sign & Symptoms :
Most individuals with anorexia nervosa refuse to recognize (deny) that they have an eating disorder.
Symptoms may include:
- Weight loss of 15% or greater below the expected weight
- Inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics (water pills) in an effort to lose weight
- Self-imposed food intake restrictions, often hidden
- No menstruation
- Skeletal muscle atrophy
- Loss of fatty tissue
- Low blood pressure
- Dental cavities due to self-induced vomiting
- Blotchy or yellow skin
- Depression
Diagnose :
A diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is not made until other causes of weight loss are ruled out. The health care provider will determine if endocrine, metabolic, digestive, and central nervous system abnormalities can explain the weight loss. (For example, extreme weight loss could be due to celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison's disease, and many other possible conditions.)
Treatment :
The biggest challenge in treating anorexia nervosa is having the person recognize that their eating behavior is itself a problem, not a solution to other problems. However, most persons with anorexia nervosa deny that they have an eating disorder. Individuals often enter treatment when their condition is fairly advanced.
The goal of treatment is first to restore normal body weight and eating habits, and then attempt to resolve psychological issues. A hospital stay may be needed, especially if the person has lost a lot of weight.
Supportive care by health care providers, structured behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, and anti-depressant drug therapy are some of the methods that are used for treatment. Severe and life-threatening malnutrition may require intravenous feeding.
Prevention :
In some cases, prevention may not be possible. Encouraging healthy, realistic attitudes toward weight and diet may be helpful. Sometimes, counseling can help.
