Signs of Anorexia

Anorexia, also known as anorexia nervosa, is a psychological condition, which results in a decreased intake of food in order to lose body weight. This eating disorder is characterized by a persistent fear of weight gain and self-starvation. People with anorexia possess a distorted body image. They believe themselves to be overweight even though they are clinically diagnosed as underweight. There are two types of anorexia such as restricted type of anorexia and binge-eating/purging type of anorexia. The restricted type of anorexia is characterized by weight loss due to reduction in overall food intake. In the second type of anorexia, people engage in binge and purge behavior in addition to fasting.

Causes of Anorexia

No definite cause of anorexia is determined. However, there are several factors supposed to be contributing to the development of anorexia. There are biological, psychological and sociocultural causes of developing anorexia. Some people are genetically vulnerable to develop anorexia. People with anorexia have higher levels of cortisol, the brain hormone related to stress. They also have decreased levels of norepinephrine and serotonin that are related to the feelings of well-being. People with anorexia may have obsessive-compulsive personality traits, low self-worth, which makes it easier to stick to strict diets. Such people have an extreme drive for perfectionism. Due to cultural, family and social pressure, some people strongly wish to be very slim and skinny. People engaged in activities that demand slenderness such as modeling, ballet or gymnastics are very cautious about their weight. Some stressful life events such as a relationship breakup, career failure or onset of puberty can trigger anorexia.

Signs of Anorexia

There are a number of signs and symptoms that indicate a development of anorexia. People with anorexia lose their weight mainly through severely restricted diet. They often disguise their eating habits, thinness or physical problems. They may try to lose their weight through excessive exercising. They tend to control the calorie intake by vomiting after eating or by misusing diuretics, laxatives or enemas. Some of the most common signs of anorexia are extreme weight loss, thin appearance, very little diet, avoidance of food and frequent use of diet pills, laxatives or diuretics. The signs of anorexia are categorized as physical signs, psychological signs and behavioral symptoms.

• Physical signs: Some common physical signs of anorexia include thin appearance, extreme weight loss, fatigue, abnormal blood counts, thin and broken hair, hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, dull eyes, fainting or dizziness, constipation, absence of menstruation, bloated or upset stomach, dehydration, intolerance of cold, low blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms and osteoporosis.
• Psychological signs: In addition to physical signs, anorexia gives rise to some psychological signs such as poor judgment, inability to remember the things, distorted perception of self, refusal to acknowledgment the gravity of illness, obsessive-compulsive behavior and depression. People suffering from anorexia experience a feeling of ineffectiveness, lack of initiative, loss of interest in daily activities, insomnia, irritability, difficulty in concentration and diminished interest in sex.
• Behavioral symptoms: A person with anorexia shows some unusual behavioral changes associated with eating. The person refuses to eat in public, tends to eat only one type of food, ritually cuts the food into tiny pieces and deeply studies about diet and calories. Some other behavioral signs are compulsive exercising, refusal to eat, denial of hunger, preoccupation with weight control, body size, dieting and lack of emotion.

Health Risks of Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening psychological disorder that can give rise to some hazardous physical consequences. About 20% of anorexics die of starvation and malnutrition. Self-starvation in anorexia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, infertility, amenorrhea, liver damage, heart damage, osteoporosis, kidney damage, damage to immune system and personality changes. Excessive starvation can cause permanent health damage and even death.

Treatment for Anorexia

If there is an electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, fainting or psychiatric problems due to anorexia, then you immediately need to seek appropriate medical treatment. The treatment focuses on normal weight gain. A combination of various therapies such as nutritional therapy, counseling, cognitive therapy, family therapy and group therapy is used to treat this disorder.