Definition
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa is an unhealthy eating disorder, indicated by a body weight that is too light for the person's age and height. People who suffer from this emotional disorder experience an intense fear of gaining weight, even when they are already very thin, and have a very thin stature. They make various attempts to diet, engage in excessive physical activity, or make various other efforts to prevent weight gain (such as taking laxatives and intentional vomiting) to lose weight.
How common is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is more common in women than men. Often anorexia begins to appear in pre-adolescence or during adolescence, as well as early adulthood. Anorexia nervosa can cause extreme weight loss and can be life threatening if not treated promptly. Always consult a doctor for more information.
Signs & Symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
The most common symptoms and features include:
- Extreme fear of gaining weight or getting fat, even when you are already thin
- Intentionally throwing up food
- Taking drugs that stimulate urination and defecation
- Taking various types of diet pills
- Not eating or eating very small amounts
- Lots of exercise even when the weather is bad or sick and tired
- Weigh food sizes and count food calories.
Anorexia can also cause psychological effects that make a person not behave as usual. They can talk a lot about weight and food, don't eat in public, be moody and sad, or don't even want to socialize with friends. People with anorexia can also experience physical and psychological disorders, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dry mouth
- Problems with the brain and heart
- Very sensitive to cold air
In addition, there are also some characteristics and symptoms that are not mentioned above. If you have the same complaint, please consult your doctor.
When should I see a doctor?
If you have the above characteristics or symptoms, or have any other questions, please consult your doctor. Anorexia can be very life threatening for a person if he has reached a very thin body condition. Most people with anorexia will refuse treatment because they don't think they have a problem. The best thing to do is to support them and make sure that they do have a problem and need medical attention.
Reasons
What causes anorexia nervosa?
The main cause of anorexia nervosa is still unknown. Various factors can be included like depression and various other mental disorders. Genes and hormones also play an important role. Social media can also influence a person's perception of the standard of beauty, namely a very thin body posture.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for anorexia nervosa?
The following risk factors can affect your chances of developing anorexia nervosa, namely:
- Family history. If you have an anorexic mother or sister, you can be especially vulnerable to anorexia
- Low self-confidence. A person suffering from anorexia may not like himself. They may hate the way they look, or feel hopeless. They often set hard-to-reach goals for themselves in order to be or feel as perfect as they want to be
- Life changes or stressful experiences
- Traumatic events such as rape, as well as stressful experiences such as starting a new job can cause anorexia.
- Social media influence. Images on TV, the internet, and print media often campaign for a thin body type to sound better. The photos indicate that being thin is a success and beauty. This point can be another risk.
Treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What are my treatment options for anorexia nervosa?
The biggest challenge in dealing with someone with anorexia nervosa is making them aware that they have a disorder. Many people with anorexia deny that they have an unhealthy diet. The sufferers who end up doing medical treatment only those who are really serious. Treatment for people with anorexia can be in the form of:
- Conversational therapy is often used with young patients or someone who has had anorexia for a while to encourage them to return to a healthy diet.
- “Cognitive behavioral therapy” (a type of therapy through conversation):
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers can help some anorexic patients when given as part of a complete treatment program. These medications can help with depression as well as feelings of anxiety. Although medication can help, nothing has ever been proven to completely eliminate the sufferer's desire to lose weight
What are the usual tests for anorexia nervosa?
The doctor makes a diagnosis from the patient's medical history (particularly regarding weight and diet), a physical examination, and laboratory tests to determine other conditions. There is no specific test made for anorexia. Extreme weight loss without physical illness, especially in adolescent girls, is often an important sign.
The doctor may ask:
- How long have you been worried about your weight?
- Do you exercise regularly?
- Do you use a certain method of losing weight?
- Have you ever vomited when you felt too full?
- Has someone ever told you that you were too skinny?
- Do you often think about food?
- Have you ever saved food to eat later?
- Does anyone in your family also have an eating disorder?
If there is a possibility of anorexia, the doctor will ask you to do a series of additional tests, namely:
- Albumin;• Bone density test to check thin bones (osteoporosis);• CBC;• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG);• Electrolytes;• Kidney function tests;• Liver function tests;• Total protein;• Thyroid function tests;• Urinalysis
Home Remedies
What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat anorexia nervosa?
The following are forms of a healthy lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with anorexia nervosa:
- Reduce stress
- Admit that you have anorexia
- Eat foods prescribed by a doctor or nutritionist
- Take a counseling session
- Take medication as instructed
- Buy clothes that fit your posture, not clothes that require you to lose weight first to wear them.
If you have any questions, consult a doctor for the best solution for your problem.