* Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and, more importantly, a psychological disorder.
* The cause of anorexia has not been definitively established, but self-esteem and self-image issues, societal pressures, and genetic factors likely each play a role.
* Anorexia affects females far more often than males and is most common in adolescent females.
* Anorexia tends to affect the middle and upper socioeconomic classes and Caucasians more than less advantaged classes and ethnic minorities in the United States.
* The disorder affects about 1% of adolescent girls in the U.S.
* People with anorexia tend to show compulsive behaviors, may become obsessed with food, and often show behaviors consistent with other addictions in their efforts to overly control their food intake and weight.
» Read more: Anorexia Nervosa At A Glance
Posts Tagged ‘Diet’
Anorexia Nervosa At A Glance
February 21st, 2010Where can a person get help for anorexia nervosa?
February 21st, 20101. National Eating Disorders Association
603 Stewart Street, Suite 803
Seattle, WA 98101
1-800-931-2237
206-382-3587
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
2. National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml
3. National Institute of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
http://www.nih.gov
» Read more: Where can a person get help for anorexia nervosa?
The future of anorexia
February 21st, 2010Given the complexity of anorexia and how many people with this illness continue to suffer from it despite receiving treatment, researchers are seeking to better understand how this illness develops and how it is most effectively treated. For example, as individuals with anorexia tend to have low levels of cortisol in their blood, and behaviors like dieting and exercise tend to increase cortisol levels, giving anorexia sufferers cortisol supplements is being explored with some success.
» Read more: The future of anorexia
What is the prognosis (outcome) of anorexia?
February 21st, 2010Anorexia is among the psychiatric conditions that have the highest mortality rate, with an estimated 6% of anorexia victims dying from complications of the disease. The most common causes of death in people with anorexia are medical complications of the condition, including cardiac arrest and electrolyte imbalances. Suicide is also a cause of death in people with anorexia. In the absence of any coexisting personality disorder, younger individuals with anorexia tend to do better over time than their older counterparts.
» Read more: What is the prognosis (outcome) of anorexia?
How is anorexia treated?
February 21st, 2010Anorexia may be treated in an outpatient setting or hospitalization may be necessary. For an individual with severe weight loss that has impaired organ function, hospital treatment must initially focus on correction of malnutrition, and intravenous feeding or tube feeding that goes past the mouth may be required. A gain of between 1 to 3 pounds per week is a safe and attainable goal when malnutrition must be corrected. Sometimes weight gain is achieved using schedules for eating, decreased physical activity, and increased social activity, either on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
» Read more: How is anorexia treated?
What are anorexia symptoms and signs (physical)?
February 21st, 2010Most of the medical complications of anorexia nervosa result from starvation. Few organs are spared the progressive deterioration brought about by anorexia.
* Heart and circulatory system: Although not life-threatening, an abnormally slow heart rate (bradycardia) and unusually low blood pressure (hypotension) are frequent manifestations of starvation and are commonly associated with anorexia. Of greater significance are disturbances in the heart rhythm (arrhythmia). A reduction in the work capacity of the heart is associated with severe weight loss and starvation.
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What are anorexia symptoms and signs (psychological and behavioral)?
February 21st, 2010Anorexia can have dangerous psychological and behavioral effects on all aspects of an individual’s life and can affect other family members as well.
* The individual can become seriously underweight, which can lead to depression and social withdrawal.
* The individual can become irritable and easily upset and have difficulty interacting with others.
* Sleep can become disrupted and lead to fatigue during the day.
* Attention and concentration can decrease.
» Read more: What are anorexia symptoms and signs (psychological and behavioral)?
How is anorexia diagnosed?
February 21st, 2010Anorexia nervosa can be a difficult disorder to diagnose, since individuals with anorexia often attempt to hide the disorder. Denial and secrecy frequently accompany other symptoms. It is unusual for an individual with anorexia to seek professional help because the individual typically does not accept that she or he has a problem (denial). In many cases, the actual diagnosis is not made until medical complications have developed. The individual is often brought to the attention of a professional by family members only after marked weight loss has occurred. When anorexics finally come to the attention of the health-care professional, they often lack insight into their problem despite being severely malnourished and may be unreliable in terms of providing accurate information. Therefore, it is often necessary to obtain information from parents or other family members in order to evaluate the degree of weight loss and extent of the disorder. Health professionals will sometimes administer questionnaires for anorexia as part of screening for the disorder.
» Read more: How is anorexia diagnosed?
What causes anorexia?
February 21st, 2010At this time, no definite cause of anorexia nervosa has been determined. However, research within the medical and psychological fields continues to explore possible causes.
Studies suggest that a genetic (inherited) component may play a more significant role in determining a person’s susceptibility to anorexia than was previously thought. Researchers are currently attempting to identify the particular gene or genes that might affect a person’s tendency to develop this disorder, and preliminary studies suggest that a gene located at chromosome 1p seems to be involved in determining a person’ s susceptibility to anorexia nervosa.
» Read more: What causes anorexia?
Who is at risk for anorexia?
February 21st, 2010Approximately 95% of those affected by anorexia are female, but males can develop the disorder as well. While anorexia typically begins to manifest itself during early adolescence, it is also seen in young children and adults. In the U.S. and other countries with high economic status, it is estimated that about one out of every 100 adolescent girls has the disorder. Caucasians are more often affected than people of other racial backgrounds, and anorexia is more common in middle and upper socioeconomic groups. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 0.5%-3.7% of women will suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives.
» Read more: Who is at risk for anorexia?
