Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa -Causes,symptoms And Treatment of Anorexia nervosa

What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa is a eating disorder. More importantly, it is also a psychological disorder. Anorexia is a condition that goes beyond out-of-control dieting. A person with anorexia initially begins dieting to lose weight. Over time, the weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control. The drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and/or fears relating to one's body. The individual continues the endless cycle of restrictive eating often to a point close to starvation in order to feel a sense of control over the body. This cycle becomes an obsession, and is similar to any type of drug or substance addiction.

Signs And Symptoms Of Anorexia

1. Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
2. Intense fear of gaining weight
3. Refusal to eat
4. Constant exercising
5. Greater amounts of hair on the body or the face
6. Sensitivity to cold
7. Absent or irregular periods
8. Sleep can become disrupted and lead to fatigue during the day.
9. A self-perception of being fat when the person is already too thin.
10. Basing self-worth on body weight and body image
11. Excessive focus on an exercise regimen
12. Refusal to maintain the minimal normal body weight for one's age and height
13. Denial of the serious consequences of low body weight
14. Attention and concentration can decrease

Causes of Anorexia nervosa

The exact cause of this disorder is not known, but social attitudes towards body appearance and family factors are believed to play a role in its development. The condition usually occurs in adolescence or young adulthood. It is more common in women, affecting 1-2% of the female population and only 0.1-0.2% of males.

Some experts feel that demands from society and families could possibly be underlying causes for anorexia. For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive. A poor self-image compounds the problem.

Some studies also suggest that a genetic (inherited) component may play a role in determining a person's susceptibility to anorexia. Researchers are currently attempting to identify the particular gene or genes that might affect a person's tendency to develop this disorder.

Treatment of Anorexia nervosa

Specific treatment for anorexia nervosa will be determined by your adolescent's physician based on:

• Your adolescent's age, overall health, and medical history.
• Extent of your adolescent's symptoms.
• Your adolescent's tolerance for specific medications or therapies.
• Expectations for the course of the condition.
• Your opinion or preference.

The overall treatment of anorexia, must focus on more than weight gain. There are a variety of treatment approaches dependent upon the resources available to the individual. Because of increasing insurance restrictions, many patients find that a short hospitalization followed by a day treatment program is an effective alternative to longer inpatient programs. Most individuals, however, initially seek outpatient treatment involving psychological as well as medical intervention.

Anorexia is usually treated with a combination of individual therapy, family therapy, behavior modification, and nutritional rehabilitation. Treatment should always be based on a comprehensive evaluation of the adolescent and family. Individual therapy usually includes both cognitive and behavioral techniques. Medication (usually antidepressants) may be helpful if the adolescent with anorexia is also depressed. The frequent occurrence of medical complications and the possibility of death during the course of acute and rehabilitative treatment requires both your adolescent's physician and a nutritionist to be active members of the management team. Parents play a vital supportive role in any treatment process. Hospitalization may be required for medical complications related to weight loss and malnutrition.

prevention of anorexia

New research findings are showing that some of the "traits" in individuals who develop anorexia nervosa are actual "risk factors" that might be treated early on. For example, low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, and dieting may be identified and interventions instituted before an eating disorder develops.  Advocacy groups have also been effective in reducing dangerous media stories, such as teen magazine articles on "being thin" that may glamorize such risk factors as dieting.