ANoReXiA
anorexia (an’ə reks΄ē
ə) n. // an eating disorder characterized by obsession with weight loss in
full
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Approximately 8 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder
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1 in 200 American women suffer from anorexia
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95% of eating disorder victims are between the ages of 12 and 25
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Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental
illness
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5-10% of anorexics die within ten years
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Only 1 in 10 anorexia sufferers will receive treatment
Anorexia in brief:
Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder with extreme physical
consequences. The victim is obsessed
with being thin and starves herself in an attempt to avoid weight gain. Although she may be severely emaciated, an
anorexic will often see herself as overweight. This distorted self-image complicates the
already existing obsession. The victim
will become more and more malnourished as she tries to reach her unattainable goal,
all the while thinking she is still too fat.
Anorexia, however, is rarely a mere attempt to be beautiful; it is
usually a sign of an underlying mental illness such as depression,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other anxiety disorders. Although anyone can develop anorexia, it
usually affects teenage girls. This may
be due to the pressure teens face to conform and the overwhelming number of
anorexia victims in the fashion and entertainment worlds. This thought is just one of the many theories
as to why people develop anorexia; explanations range from biological predisposition
theories to those involving psychosocial distress and parenting styles. To
learn more about them, please follow these links:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper3/Hirst3.html
http://www.lifespan.org/Services/MentalHealth/Articles/Eating/anx_causes.htm
http://www.anred.com/causes.html
http://www.something-fishy.org/whatarethey/anorexia.php
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/anorexia_signs_symptoms_causes_treatment.htm
Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa
(as
according to www.mentalhealth.com)
A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or
above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading
to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to
make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less
than 85% of that expected).
B. Intense fear of gaining weight or
becoming fat, even though underweight.
C. Disturbance in the way in which one's
body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on
self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
D. In postmenarcheal
females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual
cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only
following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration.)
Other Symptoms
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Loss of 15% of body weight
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Feelings of guilt after eating
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Paleness, dizziness, or fainting spells
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Intense dramatic mood swings
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Excessive exercising
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Sensitivity to cold
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Hair loss from scalp
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Exhaustion
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Perfectionist behavior
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Growth of hair on face and body (called lanugo)
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Diminished mental abilities
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Electrolyte imbalance
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Problems sleeping
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Cardiac arrest
Effects of anorexia explained
Anorexia nervosa
affects more than the size of the victim.
It can cause multiple diseases and complications. The most important principle dealing with
anorexia’s effects is that the vital functions of the body (those of the brain,
heart, and lungs) will always override the functions of lesser organs. When these vital organs are lacking a
necessary chemical or compound, the body will do whatever is necessary to
compensate. Once this concept is
understood, it is easy to explain the problems brought on by anorexia.
An initial effect
of anorexia nervosa is decreased energy.
Every body function requires energy; energy is a product of a cellular
process called metabolism, where glucose is broken down into ATP, a form of
energy. The body obtains glucose through
the intake of food, and starvation causes the cells to have little or no
glucose to convert. This causes a
decreased metabolism; in response, the heart rate is slowed down to conserve
the existing energy. A decreased heart
rate will, in turn, cause decreased blood pressure. This lowered blood pressure also lowers the
amount of oxygen reaching the brain, causing headaches.
Another primary
effect of anorexia is electrolyte imbalance.
Electrolytes are important ions used in regular cell functions. Electrolytes have an extremely important
function in the cardiac cells of the heart: they cause and regulate its
beats. The sodium-potassium pump causes
a transfer of sodium and potassium across the cell membranes. Without adequate potassium, the heart cannot
function correctly and will slow down or fail completely.
The overall lack
of nutrition causes the body to begin to starve, threatening the functions of
the heart, lungs, and brain. To maintain
equilibrium (of electrolytes, minerals, vitamins, and basic chemicals involved in
necessary reactions) the body begins to break itself down, releasing the
much-needed nutrients. For example,
anorexic patients will often have dry skin and hair loss due to the breakdown
of these structures to release amino acids that the heart, brain, and lungs
might need. Fat and muscle stored in the
body’s tissues are also broken down. As
a result, muscle tone and percent body fat decreases. The decreased body fat and extreme weight
loss can lead to hormonal imbalances.
One consequence of a hormonal balance is amenorrhea, or the cessation of
a menstrual cycle. The decreased body
fat also explains why anorexic victims are often sensitive to cold; they have
lost their insulation. This constant
sensation of being cold causes lanugo, which is the
growth of fine hair all over the body in an attempt to stay warm.
In addition to
hair, skin, fat, and muscles being broken down, bones are also
decomposing. Osteoclasts
tear down bone, releasing calcium stored in the intracellular matrix of the
bone into the blood. This action can
cause osteoporosis, causing spontaneous fractures.
If anorexia is
allowed to progress long enough, the victim will starve herself
to death. Sometimes, the cause of death
is a complication brought on by malnutrition, not the lack of energy
itself. A deficiency of any essential
vitamin or mineral causes many symptoms and complications of its own. However, heart failure is the most common
cause of death in anorexics. Without the
food needed for adequate energy production, the heart ceases to function, and
the victim dies.
“Successful treatment
of anorexia nervosa entails a complex integration of therapeutic and medical
approaches since both physical and psychological issues must be dealt with.”
~www.drawntogether.com/anorexia.htm
Obviously, in the cases of severe
anorexia, medical treatment is necessary.
At times, the anorexic must be fed intravenously, since she refuses to eat. Vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, water, and
other essential nutrients are pumped into the victim’s body to keep it from
“digesting itself.” Medical attention is
also given to any diseases or complications due to the eating disorder, such as
anemia, osteoporosis, or heart problems.
Once stabilized, the victim may now be sent to a psychiatric hospital or
recovery clinic for help with the mental aspects of the disease (although some
secondary diseases caused by anorexia may require long-term treatment).
Many different forms of psychiatric
treatment exist. Cognitive-oriented
therapy is often necessary to redefine the victim’s self image. The anorexic must realize what healthy weights
and body fat percentages are and must try to view herself
with that knowledge in mind. She may
need to work through any underlying issues that may be causing her anorexia:
depression, anxiety, relationships with family and friends. Sometimes, childhood occurrences and
unhealthy child-parent relationships lead to anorexia. If the disease stems from one of these
factors, the victim may need to work through the pain, anger, and guilt
associated with them (this may require family therapy as well). Group therapy is also an option, as anorexic
victims can share with and learn from each other. Anorexia is rarely understood by someone who
has not experienced it, and oftentimes, a reformed or recovering anorexic is
much more help than an “outsider.”
Anti-depressants are often prescribed and seem to work fairly well in
speeding up recovery.
For more information on the treatment of
anorexia, please click on one of the links below:
http://yourmedicalsource.com/library/anorexia/ANO_treatment.html
http://www.anorexia-nervosa-treatment.com/treatment.htm
http://www.something-fishy.org/reach/treatmenttypes.php
Works Cited:
http://www.facetheissue.com/anorexia.html
http://familydoctor.org/063.xml
http://www.bengarvin.com/portfolio/voices/anorexia.html
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/anorexia/statistics.htm
http://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org/anorexia_nervosa_ss.htm
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