Anorexia Nervosa

 

        

Anorexia Nervosa is a severe eating disorder that should be taken seriously. There are extreme physical consequences for anorexia if treatment is not provided. Those who seek help for this disorder are extremely likely to get diagnosed early and receive care from a disorders specialist to improve their health. Many people think that anorexia is a trivial body image problem, but this is simply not the case.

        The symptoms of classic anorexia are severe and can have lasting damage to the body if not handled correctly. Sufferers of anorexia experience extreme weight loss or lack of appropriate weight gain. Anorexic patients intentionally restrict the number of calories they intake and the kinds of foods they eat. These people tend to have a distorted body image believing that they are overweight when they are really dangerously skinny. Some anorexics exercise compulsively, binge eat, and purge. Anorexic patients deserve special care to handle their dangerous habits.

        There are emotional warning signs one can see in a person if he/she is suffering from anorexia along with being extremely underweight. Someone with anorexia may dress in layers to avoid showing their weight or to stay warm. There may be only certain foods this person will eat with a possible bias against whole categories of food. An anorexic is obsessed with their weight and dieting, fat grams, and/or calories. This person may make continual comments about being “fat” despite being abnormally thin and complain about abdominal pain, constipation, cold intolerance, legathy, or excess energy. An anorexic may continually deny feeling hungry, chew excessively, arrange food on their plate, eat food in certain orders, or even hide food.

        The physical signs of anorexia may be easier to spot. Anorexics may experience dry skin, dizziness, difficulties concentrating, fainting, abnormal laboratory feelings, sleep problems, and menstrual irregularities. An anorexic may feel cold all the time, experience sleeping problems, have yellow skin, and have dry and brittle nails. Being a constant cycle of starvation the body does not get the required nutrients it needs, thus the body slows down all of its systems to conserve energy leading to serious medical issues. Anorexia can affect every organ in the body and is not just a “phase”. The most physical processes affected by and associated with anorexia are cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and neurological. All these physical signs have serious long-term consequences.

        According to DSM-5 are person can be anorexic if they meet these criteria. A person restricts his/her energy consumption by developing a body weight that is significantly low for their age, weight, and gender affecting his/her general health. An intense fear of weight gain or becoming fat is present, though the person is underweight. Confusion about their weight or shape occurs on self-evaluation, denial of having seriously low body weight, or denial of the seriousness of extremely low body weight is experienced. It is possible that even not all the DSM-5 precedents are not meant a serious eating disorder can still be present. Those who do not meet all the criteria on the DSM-5 may have atypical anorexia.

        There is a false notion that you can tell a person is anorexic by looking at them. Most anorexics are adolescents, but the number of adults and children with this disorder is increasing. A person does not need to be overweight or skinny to be considered anorexic. Recent studies conclude that larger-bodied people can also have anorexia, but are less likely to be diagnosed because of cultural bias against obesity. It is also possible for males to be anorexic, though it is much less common.

        Because anorexia is life-threatening the earlier one receives help the greater the likelihood is for recovery. There is usually a team of doctors available when an anorexic patient is treated, but if the patient is in immediate danger then a hospitalization approach is used. A vast amount of problems could take place, thus the patient’s vital organs are carefully watched. The doctors’ main focus in the treatment of anorexia is to get the patient back to a healthy weight which involves many different kinds of therapy, medications, and doctors. Many anorexics do not want or think they need treatment which makes the disorder even more concerning.

        There are many possible causes for anorexia nervosa. Some researchers believe anorexia is genetic and there are physiological and emotional causes of anorexia. Western culture is also blamed for anorexia saying that Western culture reinforces the desire to be thin and displays an unrealistic standard that leads to anorexia. It is possible that more than one of these issues is responsible for the development of anorexia.

        It is important for those who know someone with anorexia or know someone who might have anorexia to help them to receive treatment as soon as possible. Anorexia is not a lifestyle or a fad, but a serious mental disorder. Taking the first steps toward treatment may be difficult, but they are necessary. One person’s involvement in a surfer's life can make all the difference.

 

                                 

                                              

 

Works Cited

        “Anorexia Nervosa.” National Eating Disorders Association, 28 Feb. 2018, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia.

        “Anorexia Nervosa.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 20 Feb. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353597.

        “McCallum Place | Causes of Anorexia Nervosa.” McCallum Place | Eating Disorder Blog, www.mccallumplace.com/anorexia-causes/.

        “The New York Times Company.” The New York Times, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/14/should-insurers-pay-for-eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa-is-a-serious-medical-condition.

        “Why You Need to Take an EDNOS Diagnosis Seriously.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/eating-disorders-news/201105/why-you-need-take-ednos-diagnosis-seriously-0.