This document provides information about anorexia, including its definition, causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, effects and treatment. Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight and feelings of guilt around eating. It is caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors such as genetics, obsessive-compulsive traits, anxiety, and cultural pressures related to thinness. Symptoms include weight loss, fatigue and hormonal changes. Treatment requires medical, nutritional and psychological support to restore healthy eating patterns and address underlying issues.
2. what is an eating disorder?
• AN EATING DISORDER IS DIFFERENT
FORMS OF IRREGULAR EATING HABITS
DUE TO LACK OF CONFIDENCE OR AND
MENTAL INSTABILITY OR SIMPLY CAUSED
BY STRESS.
• EATING DISORDERS INCLUDES
INADEQUATE OR EXCESSIVE FOOD
INTAKE WHICH IS EXTREMELY
DESTRUCTIVE TO YOUR HEALTH
• ALTHOUGH EATING DISORDERS CAN
APPEAR IN ANY STAGE OF ONE’S LIFE
BUT THIS DISORDER MOSTLY OCCURS
EARLY IN YOUR TEENAGE LIFE OR EVEN
BEFORE.
3. what is anorexia?
• Anorexia is an eating disorder
characterized by fear of gaining weight,
and guilty when they consume high
calories.
• Also known as anorexia nervosa
• Its psychologically and physically life
threatening
• Those suffering from this disorder are
suffering from extremely low body
weight compared to their height and
body build.
4. Effects
• ANOREXIA CAN HAVE SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS
• ANOREXIA CAN CAUSE:
• BRAIN DAMAGE
• MULTI-ORGAN FAILURE
• BONE LOSS
• HEART DIFFICULTIES
• INFERTILITY
• CAUSE DEATH
• UNFORTUNATELY, THE RISK OF DEATH IS HIGHEST
IN INDIVIDUALS WITH THIS DISEASE.
5. Symptoms:
• extreme weight loss
• thin appearance
• abnormal blood counts
• elevated liver enzymes
• fatigue
• dizziness or fainting
• seizure
• brittle nails
• hair that thins, breaks or falls
out
• absence of menstruation
(amenorrhea)
• development of fine hair on
the extremities (lanugo)
• constipation
• dry skin
• intolerance of cold
• irregular heart rhythms
• low blood pressure
• dehydration
• osteoporosis, the loss of bone
calcium, which may result in
broken bones
6. Causes:
The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown. As with
many diseases, it's probably a combination of biological,
psychological and environmental factors.
• Biological:
Although it's not yet clear which genes are involved
that causes anorexia but most probably scientists
mentioned that it can be inherited or makes them more
vulnerable to developing anorexia. Some people may
have a genetic tendency towards perfectionism,
sensitivity and all traits associated with anorexia.
• Psychological:
emotional characters or traits takes a big role of
causing this disorder.
For example:
1-obsessive-compulsive personality traits that make it
easier to stick to strict diets and avoid food although
hungry.
2- They may have an extreme drive for perfectionism,
causing them to think they're never thin enough.
3- high levels of anxiety which causes reduction of food
consumption.
• Environmental:
1-Modern Western culture emphasizes thinness(models
etc…)
2-Peer pressure particularly among young girls.
7. Treatment:
• Medical: medications to stabilize the bodies
needs and functions.such as
malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, amenorrhea
and unstable heartbeats.
• Nutritional: weight restoration, implementation
and supervision of a studied meal plan, and
education about normal eating patterns.
• Therapy: The goal of this part of treatment is
to recognize issues associated it, and
address then heal from traumatic life events,
and most importantly to learn healthier coping
skills and develop the capacity to expressing
and deal with emotions rather that harming
ones self
8. Major Types of anorexia
There are several types of anorexia:
two common types of anorexia are:
• Binge/Purge Type – The person struggling with this
type of eating disorder will often purge after
eating. This alleviates their fear of gaining weight
and offsets some of their guilt . The behavior of
the individual with Binge/Purge Type anorexia
purges by :
1-exercising excessively
2-vomiting
3-abusing laxatives.
• Restrictive – The individual suffering from
restrictive anorexia is often perceived as highly
self-disciplined. They only restrict the quantity of
food.This is a heartbreaking form of self-
starvation.
9. Diagnosis
If your doctor suspects that you have anorexia nervosa, several tests and
exams will be taken to help pinpoint the diagnosis.
These exams and tests generally include:
• Physical exam:
1-measuring your height and weight
2-checking your heart rate
3-blood pressure and temperature
4-checking your skin and nails ;
5-listening to your heart and lungs;
6- examining your abdomen.
• Lab tests:
1-check your complete blood count (CBC) and more
specialized blood tests to check electrolytes and protein
2-Check liver function
3-kidney and thyroid.
4-urinalysis
• Psychological evaluation:
1-complete psychological self-assessment questionnaires.
2- therapy with mental health professionals (psychologists for med and
psychiatrists or councilors to improve ones habits)
• Other tests:
1-X-rays to check your bone density, check for stress fractures or broken
bones,
2- check for pneumonia or heart problems.
3-Electrocardiograms may be done to look for heart irregularities.
4-Testing nutritional requirements to improve nutrition.