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Anorexia: Anorexia Nervosa
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Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by unrealistic fear of weight gain, self-starvation, and conspicuous distortion of body image. The name comes from two Latin words that mean nervous inability to eat. In females who have begun to menstruate, anorexia nervosa is usually marked by amenorrhea, or skipping at least three menstrual periods in a row. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV (1994), defines two subtypes of anorexia nervosa--a restricting type, characterized by strict dieting and exercise without binge eating; and a binge-eating/purging type, marked by episodes of compulsive eating with or without self-induced vomiting and the use of laxatives or enemas. DSM-IV defines a binge as a time-limited (usually under two hours) episode of compulsive eating in which the individual consumes a significantly larger amount of food than most people would eat in similar circumstances.
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Anorexia Nervosa is an illness that mainly affects adolescent girls although in recent years there has been a rise in the number of boys being diagnosed with the disorder. The most common features are loss of weight and a change in behavior in which the weight loss may become severe and life threatening. Personality changes will be those of increasing seriousness and introversion and an increasing tendency to become obsessional. She/He will usually begin to lose contact with her friends, regress and appear to lose confidence. She/He may become less assertive, less argumentative and more dependant The disorder, which usually begins in young people around the time of puberty, involves extreme weight loss; at least 15 percent below the individual's normal body weight. Typical symptoms are:
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Anorexia nervosa can have severe, life-threatening complications. Prolonged starvation can lead to malnutrition and damage of the vital organs, including the heart and brain. In addition, nutritional deprivation often results in the loss of bone mass (osteoporosis), which may result in brittle bones that break easily. Other complications from malnutrition include amenorrhea, anemia (low red blood cell count), infertility (inability to get pregnant), hair loss and a failure to grow in children or adolescents. In the case of patients who engage in prolonged self-induced vomiting, damage to the teeth, gums and upper gastrointestinal tract can occur. If left untreated, patients with anorexia nervosa may literally starve themselves to death.
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Anorexia Nervosa sufferers often have a fear or aversion to food, and will only eat minimal amounts. This may be a general disdain for food, or a fear that eating it will cause her to become too fat. This lack of nutrients leads to many other things that are a side effect, such as a low amount of vitamins, brittle bones, a weak heart, and general frailness. It ... causes the sufferer to become very antisocial, possibly in an attempt to hide herself from the outside world.
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Anorexia nervosa often includes depression, irritability, withdrawal, and peculiar behaviors such as compulsive rituals, strange eating habits, and division of foods into "good/safe" and "bad/dangerous" categories. Person may have low tolerance for change and new situations; may fear growing up and assuming adult responsibilities and an adult lifestyle. May be overly engaged with or dependent on parents or family. Dieting may represent avoidance of, or ineffective attempts to cope with, the demands of a new life stage such as adolescence.
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Anorexia nervosa results from an interaction of several different factors. Most researchers agree that one of the most important causes of anorexia nervosa is Western society’s emphasis on thinness and body shape as a primary measure of attractiveness. In fact, many believe that most people who develop anorexia are female because there is more pressure for women to be thin. Media images of very thin models and actors lead many people to believe that they will only be considered attractive and successful if they are ... very thin. These images may cause many people to develop unrealistic expectations for their own bodies. People may also feel pressure from family members or peers to be thin.
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Anorexia Nervosa