What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Difference between Anorexia and Bulimia

Both anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders with similar symptoms, such as fear of gaining weight and distorted body image. The primary distinction between them is in their eating behavior.

• Anorexia:

People with anorexia eat less to limit their calorie intake and they may also purge to lose weight. These individuals are too skinny or underweight, and have a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/ m2.

• Bulimia:

Individuals with bulimia eat large portions of food at once and then engage in unhealthy activities, such as self-induced vomiting, inappropriate use of laxatives or thyroid hormones, fasting for long periods, and over-exercising. People with this condition usually maintain an optimal body weight but with unhealthy eating patterns.

Causes of Anorexia

While the exact cause of anorexia is unknown, experts believe a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors leads to the condition.

1. Genetics:

Having a parent or sibling with anorexia can increase your risk of developing the condition. Moreover, changes to the neurotransmitters and brain reward system can also hurt your mood and appetite.

2. Environment:

Certain cultures idealize thin bodies, thereby putting pressure on people to maintain a relatively low body weight. Furthermore, the younger generation gets influenced by celebrities and models and associates beauty and popularity with thinness.

3. Psychology:

Psychological factors, such as OCD or obsessive-compulsive disorder, can also lead to anorexia in some individuals. Such people are more obsessed with their diet and body image than others.

4. Trauma:

Experts believe that experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as physical abuse, can also lead to anorexia.

5. Emotional well-being:

Poor emotional health due to peer pressure, eve-teasing, difficult relationships, etc., can also cause anorexia.

Symptoms

Some common signs of anorexia in children and adults are:

• Extreme weight loss within a few months

• Having a low body weight based on your age, height, stature, and sex

• Sudden and unexplained changes in BMI

Anorexia symptoms include:

• Feeling tired and lethargic

• Slow or irregular heartbeat

• Feeling weak and dizzy

• Low blood pressure

• Dehydration

• Feeling cold even in normal conditions

• Poor concentration

• Irregular menstrual cycles or absent periods

• Loss of muscle tissue

• Abdominal pain

• Unhealthy skin, hair, and nails

• Falling sick frequently

• Trouble sleeping

• Anaemia

Some other symptoms of anorexia are:

• Eating less despite having a low body weight

• Being overly conscious about calories and nutrition

• Skipping meals

• Feeling fat, even when thin or underweight

• Being fearful of gaining weight

• Consuming laxatives and diet pills to keep body weight in check

• Over-exercising

• Feeling anxious and depressed

Diagnosis

Anorexia is diagnosed with the help of certain tests and exams. These include the following —

• Physical examination:

If doctors suspect anorexia, they may check your height, weight, skin and nails for signs of this eating disorder. They may also check your vital signs, such as blood pressure, body temperature, and heart rate.

• Psychological examination:

Since anorexia can affect your mental health, the doctor may ask you about your thoughts and eating habits. They may also refer you to a mental health professional for a thorough evaluation of your psychological well-being.

• Lab tests:

Doctors may also advise certain lab tests to diagnose anorexia. These include complete blood count (CBC), liver, kidney and thyroid function tests, urinalysis, and more.

• X-rays:

Imaging tests or X-rays are done to check bone density, stress fractures, heart problems, and pneumonia.

• Electrocardiogram:

This is done to check the electrical activity or functioning of the heart.

How is Anorexia Treated?

Anorexia treatment may vary from individual to individual. If diagnosed with anorexia, the individual may require treatment for the following:

• Restoring a healthy body weight

• Eliminating wrong eating behaviors, such as binge eating, skipping meals, and purging

• Working on psychological health to overcome wrong thinking patterns, such as low self-esteem and immense fear of gaining weight.

• Treating additional emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and more.

While some people are advised residential care, others require hospitalization. Most cases are treated through nutrition counseling, psychotherapy, and medication. Family therapy or family-based therapy is also an important part of the treatment. In this, the family members are advised to identify the signs and symptoms of the condition and encourage the patient to follow healthy eating habits.