What is Anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening eating disorder in which people refuse to eat, causing them to have very low body weight. People with anorexia nervosa have extreme obsessions with being and staying thin. Even though they lose weight, they think they should lose more weight or they refuse to gain weight, thinking that it is normal when they are very thin. Anorexia nervosa is usually seen between the ages of 12-20 and is more common in women. We are likely to encounter anorexia nervosa in 1 or 2 of every hundred people.

Anorexia Symptoms

Physical Symptoms

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Psychological Symptoms (Emotional and Behavioral)

Physical symptoms:

• Excessive weight loss

• Anemia

• Irregular heart rhythm

• Fatigue

• Sleep disorder (Insomnia)

• Menstrual irregularity or amenorrhoea in women

• Dizziness and fainting

• Thinning and loss of hair

• Constipation

• Dry or yellowish skin

• Bone osteoporosis

• Swelling of arms or legs

• Kidney problems

• Discoloration of nails

Emotional and behavioral symptoms:

• Constant interest in food

• Rejecting the feeling of hunger

• Fear of gaining weight

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• Social isolation

• Anger-aggressive behavior

• Depression

• Skipping meals, making excuses not to eat

• Constantly calculating the fat and calories of foods and eating according to these values

• Constantly weighing ourselves

• Not wanting to eat in public, avoiding

• Spending long periods of time in front of the mirror

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• Thinking that you are overweight, no matter how thin you are, and complaining about this situation

• Trying to hide your body by wearing loose clothes

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

Biy biological factors:The genetic predisposition effect has not yet been proven. But some genes can trigger anorexia nervosa. Since anorexia is seen in extremely perfectionist, sensitive and ambitious people, the effect of genetic predisposition is mentioned.

Psychological factors: Some psychological characteristics can be a trigger for anorexia. Depressed mood or obsessive-compulsive disorder can cause people to become obsessed with their weight.

Environmental factors:Perfectionist or overprotective family attitudes may cause the individual to develop anorexia nervosa. The child may develop anorexia nervosa due to the need to adapt to the demands and pressures of the family or to declare his independence by rejecting the pressures.

The fact that being thin is encouraged by society, the influences of friends, and boyfriend/girlfriend criticism are other triggers. The need to look like the admired people seen in magazines or on social media can lead to obsessiveness about losing weight. However, many of the images we encounter are designed using Photoshop and do not always reflect reality.

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment

Treatment is a long and difficult process, and patients often refuse treatment. Those who accept treatment cannot manage this process alone. Since it causes many physical and psychological problems, treatment must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, psychiatrist and psychologist. Mutual trust and cooperation are important and necessary in the treatment process. Family support is another important factor. Many people with anorexia also experience symptoms of depression. Psychological support should be received for depression, anxiety, fears, deterioration in body perception and to support treatment.

 

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