What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that influences the eating habits and body image of individuals. People with anorexia tend to limit food intake, participate in excessive exercise and/or purge the food they consume through self-induced vomiting or laxatives.
These behaviours result from individuals having a distorted image of their bodies and living with the intense fear of gaining weight. Individuals living with anorexia nervosa usually lose weight to the point it starts affecting their physical health.
Anorexia nervosa, like other eating disorders, is a complex mental health challenge. Individuals experiencing the eating disorder face immense physical, emotional, and psychological challenges as they navigate life with their mental health.
The path towards recovery isn’t easy, but it’s definitely possible. However, individuals with anorexia require a lot of support, compassion, and empathy during this journey.
Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa involves mental, behavioural, and physical signs and symptoms. It’s crucial to remember that an individual does not have to be underweight to have anorexia. Similarly, if an individual is underweight, it doesn’t mean they have anorexia nervosa.
Because of the complexity of the eating disorder, it’s crucial to look over the more common signs of anorexia.
The most common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
- Restricted and unhealthy eating habits
- Obsessive thoughts over body weight loss
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Signs of extreme or abrupt weight loss
Physical symptoms:
- Signs of extreme weight loss
- Damaged skin
- Decreased bone health
- Fragile hair or nails
- Infertility
- Arrhythmia
- Challenges with the gastrointestinal system
- Irregularities in the menstrual cycle
- Lightheadedness, fainting, or general weakness
Behavioural signs and symptoms:
- Extreme exercising (either too long or too intense)
- Eating exclusively only low-calorie foods
- Avoiding social gatherings or activities, especially if there’s food involved
- Evident discomfort in one’s body
- Skipping regular meals
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
- Signs of irritability and agitation
Recognising the signs and symptoms of anorexia in a loved one can be difficult, especially in the early stages of the eating disorder. People with anorexia tend to go to great lengths to conceal their eating habits, behaviours, and insecurities. Hence, it’s crucial to remain observant once you noticed some of the signs and symptoms of anorexia.
At Unique Community Services, we understand the challenges of mental health, and we provide tailored and proactive support for individuals with anorexia.
What Causes Anorexia Nervosa?
Although distorted body image and concerns about body weight gain and shape are often associated with anorexia nervosa, in some cases, they are not the only cause.
Some research shows there might be biological, environmental, and psychological factors that cause anorexia nervosa.
Biology
The biological factors that might cause anorexia nervosa are complex and not fully understood. Some research has underlined imbalances in brain chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which influence mood, appetite and other similar functions.
Additionally, there might be a genetic predisposition to anxiety and mood disorders that increase the development of eating disorders. Some studies have also underlined that individuals with a family history of eating disorders are more likely to develop one themselves.
However, it’s crucial to note that while the biological factors increase the risk of anorexia, they do not guarantee that the disorder will develop.
Environment
Unrealistic beauty standards, cultural beliefs over body weight and shape, and the influence of social media all contribute as major risk factors for developing anorexia.
Popular media has a major influence over people, especially teenagers and young adolescents, and directly impacts their self-esteem. Additionally, many media platforms have normalised extreme dieting and exercising, as well as unhealthy eating habits, which all contribute to the development of eating disorders.
Psychology
People with anorexia often have challenges with their self-esteem, anxiety, depression, or perfectionism. These challenges can result in individuals developing an eating disorder as a way to cope with difficult emotions.
Additionally, for some individuals, anorexia nervosa also develops as a way of gaining control over an aspect of their life and can occur after trauma or extreme stress.
How Is Anorexia Nervosa Diagnosed?
Anorexia nervosa and all other eating disorders have to be diagnosed by a medical professional. This includes psychiatrists or psychologists. The process involves an evaluation of the individual’s medical and psychological history, as well as other tests to rule out other medical conditions.
Medical professionals might use interviews or questionnaires to assess the symptoms and determine the diagnosis.
Difference Between Anorexia and Bulimia
Although both anorexia and bulimia have similar symptoms and are linked to distorted body image, it’s crucial to understand that they are two different eating disorders. This is especially important when it comes to creating a treatment plan.
The main difference is that, with anorexia, there’s a severe restriction of food intake, while bulimia involves recurring episodes of binge eating followed by purging.
Both eating disorders are complex, requiring special care and support.
How Is Anorexia Treated?
The first step in treating anorexia is helping the individual realise they have an eating disorder and/or that the eating disorder is harming them in various ways.
Once the individual is ready to seek help from professionals, there are multiple treatment options depending on the severity of the case.
Treatment for Adults
Nutritional counselling is a key component of treating anorexia nervosa in adults. This process involves developing meal plans that will benefit their nutritional needs and help them gain back the required weight.
Additionally, psychotherapy is important for adults with anorexia to overcome their challenges and find healthy coping mechanisms. In some severe cases, adults might require hospitalisation for anorexia.
Treatment for Children
The treatment for anorexia in children is extremely complex and sensitive. It requires a multi-disciplinary approach, including a child psychiatrist, nutritional counselling and interventions.
Depending on the severity of the eating disorder, it may require hospitalisation or outpatient care.
Anorexia Therapy
Psychotherapy is a crucial aspect of the treatment process for anorexia nervosa. People with anorexia may require different types of therapy.
Understanding the different types of therapy individuals might undergo before considering treatment is crucial.
Individual therapy
Individual therapy involves one-on-one sessions with a therapist to help understand the underlying challenges contributing to eating disorders. This process can help individuals develop new and healthy coping mechanisms and behaviours.
Additionally, therapy can help individuals overcome their challenges with their body image and gain self-esteem.
Family Therapy
In some cases, family therapy can be extremely beneficial for the individual living with anorexia. This involves therapy sessions that include family members to help them understand anorexia and learn healthy ways they can provide support during the journey.
Group Therapy
Group therapy involves working with a psychologist and a group of people who are also experiencing the challenges of anorexia nervosa. The setting of group therapy provides a supportive environment where individuals can feel less alone in their journey.
Additionally, group therapy can be beneficial for developing new eating habits and builds accountability among all the individuals that are part of it.
Hospitalisation
In cases where people with anorexia experience severe physical complications, they might require hospitalisation. While hospitalised, individuals will be under monitoring to prevent further physical complications.
The length of hospitalisation depends on the severity of the condition.
Can Anorexia Nervosa Be Prevented?
There are a number of actions that can be taken to prevent anorexia nervosa from developing.
Promoting positive body image in children, teenagers, and adolescents is a crucial step towards preventing eating disorders. Therefore, parents, education professionals, and healthcare professionals should focus on promoting healthy eating habits and eliminating the fear of gaining weight among young people.
Seeking help in the early stages of the eating disorder can also be beneficial to prevent further complications and health concerns.
Health Risks of Anorexia
Anorexia can lead to a range of physical and psychological health concerns. Some of the more concerning health complications are a result of low body weight and inadequate nutritional intake. Some of the more serious health complications of anorexia include:
- Malnutrition
- Cardiac issues
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Loss of muscle
- Significant weight loss
- Decreased bone density
- Challenges with hormones and/or infertility
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions
All of the conditions and health concerns listed above can cause immense harm to individuals who are at risk because of anorexia nervosa. In some cases, anorexia can also cause death. Therefore, early intervention can prevent potential health concerns in the future.
Living with Anorexia Nervosa
Living with anorexia nervosa is an immensely difficult experience – one that no individual should ever go through. For many people with anorexia, it feels like they are trapped in a constant cycle of negative thoughts and unhealthy habits.
The stigmatisation of eating disorders makes this journey even more difficult and results in treatment rejection. It takes a great deal of bravery, support, compassion, and empathy for individuals to start their recovery journey. However, it’s crucial to remember that even though recovery might seem like an impossible goal, there are examples of many people that have proven it’s possible.
Anorexia Support with Unique Community Services
At Unique Community Services, we believe that creating a safe and comfortable environment is crucial for the recovery journey of any eating disorder.
Our clinicians are trained to assist individuals in all activities during the day, no matter if it’s with medical assistance, meal monitoring, or support with everyday tasks.
Additionally, we understand the importance of creating an environment free of judgement, guilt, and shame.
We take a humanised and compassionate care approach with the individuals we care for. Our priority is to understand the challenges of the individuals we take care of and spend extra time addressing them individually through collaboration with our committed teams of clinicians.
We can provide the accountability, support, and compassion you or your loved one deserve during the challenging times that come with eating disorder treatments.
To learn better how we can help, make sure to learn more about our service.
