ANOREXIA NERVOSA

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INTRODUCTION

Anorexia nervosa is a complicated psychological and highly life-threatening eating disorder.

 People with anorexia minimize their food intake intentionally, this occurs due to Obesophobia (fear of gaining weight), even they are in the underweight category of body mass index (BMI). They start exercising, using laxatives, and even induce vomiting voluntarily in the fear of taking a large number of calories.

 


Complications are very severe and often lead to many other health conditions. It is reported that people with eating disorders have the highest mortality rate compared to any other mental illness.

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Physical signs and symptoms appear as a result of  lack of nutrients, which include:

·         Loss of muscle mass

·        listlessness, exhaustion, and fatigue

·        Low blood pressure (Hypotension)

·        Light-headedness or dizziness

·        Low body temperature (Hypothermia), and cold hands and feet

·        Upset Stomach, bloating, and sometimes constipation

·        Skin dryness

·        Alopecia (Loss of hair)

·        Amenorrhea (Loss of menstruation) or less frequent periods

·        Infertility

·        Insomnia or sleep disturbances

·        Osteoporosis (loss of bone density)

·        Brittle or weak nails

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Some of the risk factors are:

·        Suffering from depression and anxiety

·        Not good at handling stress

·        Extremely worried and doubtful about the future

·        Perfectionist and overly concerned about rules

·        Negative self-image or lack of confidence

·        Eating problems during early childhood or infancy

·        Holding specific ideas regarding beauty and health, which may be influenced by culture or society

 

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

Treatment is based on:

·       Medication

·       Psychotherapy

·       Family therapy

·       Nutrition counseling.

 

The goals of treatment are:

 

·        To restore body weight to a healthy level

·        To treat emotional problems, including low self-esteem

·        To address distorted thinking

·        To help the patient develop behavioral changes that will persist in the long term

 

 

By: SAMAN AFTAB

Doctor of physical therapy

 


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