Anorexia

Anorexia means ‘a loss of appetite’. Anorexia nervosa refers to an eating disorder and a mental health condition. People with Anorexia are overly conscious about their weight and have problems with eating. They will starve themselves to lose weight because

• They think they are fat or overweight
• have a strong fear of being fat, or
• Want to be thin.

The fact that they might already be too thin and underweight does not stop them from wishing to lose more weight. They will eat and obsess about calories and will even induce vomiting to reduce their calorie intake.

Causes of Anorexia

Anorexia is more common in developed countries where being slim is considered attractive. Peer pressure among young people to look as attractive as celebrities is a further catalyst. Factors that may contribute to Anorexia include:

• Low self esteem
• A family history of eating disorders
• Depression
• Being overweight previously
• Seeking perfectionism
• Puberty
• Relationships like family and physical or sexual abuse

Anorexia Symptoms

People with Anorexia will try to hide their condition from family and friends and will have difficulty to recognize their condition. Most of the time it is their friends and family who have to identify the problem. Some of the tell tale signs include:

• Taking laxatives or diuretics constantly
• Leaving the table, immediately after a meal.
• Have pain in their abdomen
• Fatigue and poor sleep patterns
• Have low blood pressure
• Very thin yet talking about how fat they are
• Cook big meals for people, but eat little or none
• Interrupted or no periods
• Muscle wasting

The interesting thing is that people with anorexia do not usually lose their appetite. They like food and feel hungry but will do anything to lose weight.

How to Prevent Anorexia

Since there is no precise cause for the condition, preventing it is difficult. It is very common with young teens and experts and social and cultural pressures to be thin may need to be looked at.

It is important to build up the low self-esteem of individuals and avoid family dysfunction.

Treating Anorexia

Eating disorder specialists and psychiatrists are called upon to offer counseling services, antidepressants and advice on healthy eating.

Serious cases of Anorexia may require hospitalization. This may have to include treating any physical conditions that may have resulted from the condition.

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