Identifying and Treating Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that instills a phobia of weight gain perpetuated by a distorted self-image. Individuals with the disorder view themselves as overweight and execute drastic weight loss methods including excessive dieting and exercising, misusing laxatives, and self-induced vomiting.

There are two common types of anorexia that can be identified: the "restricting type" and the "binge eating/ purging type." Individuals who fall under the "restricting type" will often deny themselves of the necessary nutrients needed to function healthily by grossly undertaking the recommended amount of daily calories. The individual with this disorder has an appetite, but purposely rejects it in order to lose weight. The second type of anorexia, involves excessive exercising or the acts of self-induced excreting to negate an intake of food. Both strains of anorexia prove highly threatening to the body, resulting in side effects such as hair loss, cessation of a menstrual period, malnutrition, and, if not treated properly, death.

By the estimates of PubMedHealth.com, anorexia is fatal in 10% of cases. Therefore, it is crucial for individuals with the disorder to seek careful medical attention from an anorexia treatment center. The initial step towards recovery is for the individual to admit that he or she has a problem. It is then important for him or her to avoid environmental factors that might trigger the obsession for thinness. These factors could be people, places, or products of commercial media (fashion magazines, television, social media outlets, etc.) Next, it is central for the individual to seek help from professionals in order to regain full health. Because anorexia is a disorder effecting the mind and body, due care must be attended to both. When on the road to a physical recovery, the symptoms, as well as the disorder, must be treated. Extreme cases of anorexia can cause brain and organ damage. At an anorexia treatment center, an evaluation of the body will be done so the symptoms can be treated immediately. An anorexia treatment center will also work to integrate a balanced diet into the patient's daily routine. Alongside with the physical treatment, psychological treatment is equally as significant. Patients often receive personalized therapy, as well as group therapy. Even after the rehabilitation process, it is suggested that individuals continue counseling or attend support groups in order to promote ongoing health. Anorexia is a condition with aggressive effects, but with proper treatment at an experienced and professional center focused on anorexia treatment, the disorder can be handled.

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How To Cope With Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa And Bulimia

Extreme and dangerous weight loss methods and attempts to gain the "perfect"body are common these days, especially for teenagers. This is demonstrated by a 1993 study of dieting behaviour of teenage boys and girls, and conducted by La Trobe University in Melbourne, which found 48 percent of the girls and 26 percent of the boys had tried to lose weight by extreme methods characteristic of anorexia and bulimia. There is also evidence that body-image dissatisfaction and preoccupation with weight loss are becoming increasingly common in children, especially 9 to 12 years old.

Anorexia nervosa is often known as the "slimmer's disease" an inadequate term as it fails to express the serious and dangerous nature of this condition. The often-heard comment:"I wish I could have anorexia for a while" betrays a deep misunderstanding of the grip this disorder has on its sufferers. Anorexia nervosa is a horrible psychological and physical disorder which is potentially fatal. Up to 20 percent of severe anorexia sufferers may die from the disorder-- most commonly by not eating, electrolyte, abnormalities or suicide. The vast majority of sufferers are teenage girls though it is found in all ages as well as in males. Because it has such a strong effect on the person's thinking and behaviour, recovery is hard even with help-- and almost impossible without it. For this reason, the goals of recovery must include changing anorexic thinking and behaviour patterns, as well as regaining a healthy weight. Essentially there are two types of anorexia behaviour, though the same person may use both at different times.

The first is known as the "restricting" type of anorexia, as it involves self-imposed starvation by extreme dieting and fasting. The other is referred to as the "bingeing/purging" type because as well as restricting food intake, there are episodes of out-of-control eating and purging-- usually by vomiting or using laxatives. Both types usually include compulsive, excessive exercising. The full-blown clinical condition of anorexia nervosa has the following characteristics: The refusal to maintain or reach a minimum normal and healthy weight. This low weight is achieved mainly through self-starvation and excessive exercise. Appetite suppressants may also be taken. Vomiting or the use of laxatives, enemas or diuretics, is common. There is an intense fear of gaining weight or getting fat, even for underweight anorexics. This does not stop when weight is lost-- in fact, the fear and the compulsion to starve often intensify the lower the weight becomes. Anorexia sufferers are intensely preoccupied with thoughts about food and will become highly selective in what they will allow themselves to eat-- especially avoiding carbohydrates and fats. Meals, and how to avoid them, are planned hours before they are due. Sometimes the preoccupation with food is directed into preparing food-- often quite fattening food-- for others, especially family members, while the anorexic herself abstains. One Anorexic described this as "redistributing my fat quota".

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