Anorexia nervosa – why does eating disorder occur?

What is Anorexia nervosa ? 

An eating disorder that is clearly symptomized by weight loss and distorted body perception. The sheer fear of weight gain restricts the patient, mostly women, from consuming a diet level necessary for a healthy living. 

Sypmtoms: 

The following symptoms should help you understand if you fall under this category of disorder: 

• Low body weight almost malnutritioned. Also termed as low body mass. 
• Inappropriate eating habits 
• Obsessed with skinniness 
• Fearful of gaining weight
• Opposite self  image of oneself , even if he seems underfed. 
• Hunger strokes felt due to the increase of hunger hormone but continuous denial and deprivation of food.
• Hair loss or hair growth on the face and body. 
• Purging : use of drugs to induce vomiting of any consumed calories 
• Strenuous exercise

Medical Diagnosis: 

The lack of food may drop the level of potassium significantly and cause abnormal heart rate, muscle damage or paralysis. Besides physical a mental disorder occurs in the form of depression and loneliness. The salivary glands may inflate due to excessive vomiting.  Diagnosis begins with the identification of first psychiatric and then psychological symptoms.  

Other reasons: 

Research suggests that Anorexia Nervosa may be due to biological or sociological reasons. 

Consequences:  

Contradictory to what most women may think of the complications of anorexia nervosa, it may have serious consequences especially if it inhibits the growth of muscles, bones. Let’s consider a few: 

• Growth retardation: Lack of food will result in a short height. 
• Pubertal delay or arrest: The growth hormones from the pituitary glands are disabled due to deprivation of food. 
• Low bone mass 
• Hepatic Steatosis: fatty infiltration of the liver. 
• Neurological disorder : seizures or tremors 
• Death: the worst consequence can be death specifically due to the psychological reasons. 

Treatment: 

Till date the best treatment for Anorexia Nervosa is the restoration of a healthy weight and undergoing a psychological therapy. Intake of medicine can also catalyze the weight gain process. The family unit plays the most important role in negating the fear and anti-social syndromes.