Anorexia Nervosa

General Information on Anorexia Nervosa

A person with anorexia nervosa has an extreme fear of obesity, a distorted perception of their body image, and refuses to maintain a normal body weight. Anorexia means “lack of appetite,” but people who have anorexia nervosa are actually hungry and preoccupied with food. Some people with anorexia restrict the amount of food they eat, while others binge and then purge. Hereditary and social factors have been known to play a role in anorexia nervosa. In Western society, obesity is considered unattractive and undesirable. Anorexia nervosa is more common in woman then in men. It usually begins during adolescence, but can begin earlier or later in life.

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

Symptoms may include:
An obsessive concern with diet and body weight
Rapid weight loss
Abuse of laxatives
Abuse of diuretics
Exercising excessively
Depression
Emaciation
Fainting
Loss of interest in sex
Low blood pressure
Low heart rate
Low body temperature
Soft or fine hair
Excessive body hair
Edema
Absence of menstrual periods (in women)
Poor organ functioning

Treatments For Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is usually diagnosed based on the severity of weight loss and the psychological symptoms. It is usually treated in two phases. The first phase consists of restoring the person’s body weight to a normal and healthy weight. The second phase consists of long term therapy to improve psychological functioning to prevent relapse. The initial treatment is best provided in a hospital. Sometimes the person is fed intravenously. In severe cases, doctors might place the person in the hospital against their own will. This requires appropriate legal authorization from a parent, guardian, or the court. After the person’s nutritional status is stabilized, long term therapy is started. Treatment therapy includes individual, psychotherapy, group therapy, and drug therapy.

Personal Experience

Anorexia Nervosa - personal experiences