Anorexia Nervosa Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa, referred simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder marked by an intense fear of gaining weight, a low body weight and a strong desire to be thin.

There are two types of anorexia; restricting type and purging type.

Those suffering from restricting anorexia tend to perceive themselves as obese and try to control their weight via food restriction.

Moreover, those who suffer from purging anorexia voluntarily vomit after eating or misuse laxatives and diet aids.

Cause Of Anorexia Nervosa:

Although the exact cause of anorexia is still unknown, it is believed to be caused by the combination of number of factors including the following:

Biological
It is considered to be heritable.
prenatal and perinatal complications may factor into the development of anorexia nervosa, such as:
maternalanemia,
diabetes mellitus
preeclampsia,
placental infarction,
Neonatal cardiac
Infections

Psychological
Sexual abuse
Dysfunctional families
Sociological
Social pressures
Media effect
Peer pressure

Symptoms Of Anorexia Nervosa:

Those suffering from anorexia nervosa exhibit the following symptoms:

Refusal to maintain a normal body mass index for one’s age
Amenorrhea, a symptom that occurs after prolonged weight loss;

causes menses to stop,
hair becomes brittle
Skin becomes yellow and unhealthy.

Fearful of even the slightest weight gain and takes all precautionary measures to avoid weight gain and becoming overweight
Obvious, rapid, dramatic weight loss
Lanugo (soft, fine hair growing on the face and body)
Obsession with calories and fat content of food
Preoccupation with food, recipes, or cooking; may cook elaborate dinners for others, but not eat the food themselves
Food restriction despite being underweight
Food rituals such as: