Are you showing signs of anorexia, or could they be warning signs of anorexia nervosa? People with anorexia may think they have anorexia nervosa or vice versa, so this article begins with a definition of terms to avoid confusion. More importantly, understanding the distinction will help you determine the best treatment options for your condition.
What is the difference between anorexia and anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia is a term that refers to a loss of appetite. A person with anorexia is unable to eat due to a medical condition, psychological disorder, or an adverse effect of medications rather than an obsession with losing weight.
Anorexia is characterised by severe weight loss as your body mass continues to drop due to an aversion to food.
On the other hand, anorexia nervosa is a serious psychological disorder that can affect people of both sexes. It's a form of disordered eating accompanied by a distorted body image. Sufferers believe that they are overweight and constantly need to diet and watch what they eat. People with anorexia nervosa risk major medical complications. What's more, the condition can affect women's reproductive health and make them infertile.
Atypical anorexia nervosa is a restrictive food intake disorder resulting from a fear of increasing body weight. Unlike individuals with anorexia nervosa, though, those in this category often have a normal weight that is appropriate for their age and height.
Although anorexia nervosa is typically associated with female adolescents, anyone can suffer from this eating disorder. Adult anorexia, which occurs in adulthood, can also occur in some people. The most difficult aspect of anorexia is getting people with the condition to admit they have a problem; they frequently hide their condition and become isolated and lonely.
What are the symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
A person with anorexia may exhibit a range of physical symptoms and compensatory behaviours commonly associated with the condition. The most common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
- Food restriction
- An inability to sleep properly
- Aversion to food and mealtimes
- Anxiety disorder
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation
- Inferior dental hygiene
- Irregular periods
- Lanugo – a fine hair covering the face
- Brittle hair
- Yellowish skin
- Low energy levels due to the restriction of energy intake
- Prominent jaw profile
- Rapid weight gain or extreme weight loss
- Induced vomiting after eating
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Social withdrawal
What causes anorexia nervosa?
The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown, but studies show that a variety of risk factors can contribute to it. Despite being thought to be a mental disorder, new research indicates that some patients with anorexia nervosa have a gene that indicates a family history of the condition. Aside from genetic factors, this eating disorder can be caused by a fixation on certain emotional and belief patterns as well as environmental factors.
Peer pressure or bullying has also been identified as part of the developmental trajectory of anorexia nervosa in many young girls.
The effects of anorexia nervosa should not be taken lightly as it has a high mortality rate in Australia. One in every five girls with the condition, according to the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, will commit suicide.
Source: Walden Behavioral Care
Anorexia nervosa complications
Anorexia sufferers have an increased risk of suffering a range of physical and mental health conditions, owing primarily to nutritional deficiencies. These can include poor circulation and cardiac complications, hair loss, heart failure, kidney failure, liver damage, bone loss, anaemia, osteoporosis, episodes of binge eating or bulimia nervosa, or other disordered eating patterns such as rumination disorder.
Anorexia nervosa can also lead to serious pregnancy complications such as miscarriage and low birth weight; long-term infertility is one of the common complications of anorexia nervosa.
Treatments for anorexia nervosa
Recovery from anorexia is relatively easy and quick because medical professionals only need to address the underlying cause of a patient's loss of appetite, whether it's a psychological disorder or a physical health issue.
A GP can diagnose anorexia nervosa and refer the patient to a mental health professional who specialises in counselling, psychology or psychotherapy, as well as a dietician or nutritionist. The results of the eating disorder diagnosis will determine the treatment approach, which typically focuses on the psychological and dietary aspects of the condition. Depending on how severe anorexia nervosa is, psychological therapy may include inpatient treatment as well as carefully constructed dietary and nutritional counselling that the patient must adhere to.
Natural treatments for anorexia nervosa
Natural treatments for anorexia are becoming more popular and can complement the conventional approaches described above. These may include acupuncture, art therapy, family therapy, energy healing, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, life coaching, nutrition and Reiki, amongst others.
Understanding the criteria for anorexia nervosa is the first step towards finding the right treatment. Get help right away if you or someone you care about has an excessive preoccupation with food or physical signs of food restriction.
For more information, see natural treatments for anorexia nervosa.
Originally published on Aug 30, 2010
