Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia is a lonely disease
Anorexia is a complex mental health
disorder that requires action and
intervention to prevent permanent health
risks. It is not a lifestyle choice.
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What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia is a deeply routed psychological
condition that results in a decreased intake of food
in an attempt to lose extreme amounts of body
weight.
The eating disorder is commonly characterized by a
fear of weight gain and self-starvation. Persons
with anorexia have a distorted body image, and
believe themselves to be overweight even when they
are clinically diagnosed as underweight (though not
all people with anorexia are underweight).
Anorexia, also referred to as “anorexia nervosa” is
also defined by some as a form of self-starvation.
Diagnostic criteria for anorexia
Restricted caloric intake
Refusal to eat enough food to maintain a normal body weight for
one’s age and height, or consistent maintenance of a body weight
that is less than 85% of what would be considered normal.
Obsession with weight
Fear of gaining weight that is consuming and intense, even if the
person is clinically underweight.
Body image issues
Disturbed body image and self evaluation that is overly concerned
with weight.
Physiology
Amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycles).
Types of Anorexia
There are two different and specific types of anorexia nervosa
that have been clinically defined by medical personnel. The first
type, or “restricting type” of anorexia is characterized by
weight loss that results from a reduction in ones overall food
intake. This is usually achieved through excessive dieting, fasting
and compulsive exercise.
The second type is referred to as the “binge-eating/purging type”,
and similar to bulimia, anorexics with this type often engage in
binge and purge behaviors in addition to fasting and failure to eat
an appropriate amount of food necessary to maintain a normal body
weight.
Typical behaviors associated with anorexia include restrictive
eating, dieting and exercising and episodes of binge or purging
behaviors. It is more commonly identified in young women than in
males. In fact, more than 90 percent of those diagnosed with the
condition are female.
Emotional Characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa
People diagnosed with anorexia are often characterized as very
restrictive. Anorexia results from many factors including cultural
and interpersonal ones.
Most people with anorexia have some emotional troubles. There are
some researchers that believe that the onset of the disorder may be
associated with a perceived developmental crisis that occurs as
girl’s body’s change during puberty.
The media’s constant emphasis on young, skinny women may also
contribute to the increased incidence of anorexia among young women,
and increasing pressure among young women to be thin.
Many people with anorexia place unrealistic pressure on themselves
to be thin and perfect. The overly scrutinize many aspects of their
body image and life. They often blame themselves for perceived
failures, such as their inability to maintain perfect grades or
other “perfect” conditions in life.
Individuals with anorexia may have deeply rooted insecurities, and
use anorexia as a coping mechanism to gain control over aspects of
their life they believe are out of control.
There is no one factor or trigger that results in anorexia, but
rather a combination of factors including one’s environment, self
image, family life, cultural and social influences and even
environment.
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