Anorexia Nervosa: Eating Disorder Help

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder.  Individuals that have anorexia have an extreme fear of gaining weight.  They will limit how much food they eat and become extremely and dangerously thin.

Anorexia affects the body as well as the mind.  What starts out as dieting becomes out of control.  Those who suffer from anorexia think about food, weight and dieting constantly.  They have a severely distorted image of their bodies.  Even though people may tell them they are very thin when they look in the mirror they see an extremely obese person. 

Usually anorexia starts in teenagers.  The earlier the treatment the more treatment can be effective.  However if this condition is left untreated anorexia will develop into a lifelong condition. Anorexia that is untreated will lead to starvation serious health conditions like kidney damage, heart conditions and osteoporosis.  There are some individuals that have died from these conditions. 


The Causes of Anorexia

Any eating disorder is extremely complex and experts are not certain what causes these disorders.  It's possible that these disorders are due to social factors, family history or personality traits.  A person is likely to have anorexia if:

• Other family members have eating disorders, are obese or have mood disorders like anxiety or depression.
• If they have a job or are active in a sport that stresses the size of their bodies for example, ballet or modeling or gymnastics.
• If they are the type that is a “perfectionist” and constantly feels inadequate or is a chronic worrier
• If they have an event in their life that is stressful for example divorce, moving to a new location or losing a loved one.

Anorexia is most common in:

• Teenagers, however it can start earlier or later into adulthood
• Women, however there are boys as well as men that also have anorexia.

Yet anyone can suffer from an eating disorder regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, financial status, or other factors.


Symptoms Of Anorexia

Everyone that has anorexia strongly deny that they have a problem.  They don't see or even believe that they do.  It is up to their family members to get them help.

The symptoms of people that have anorexia are:

• Underweight more than what is considered a healthy weight range
• Extremely afraid of gaining weight
• Refusal to stay in a healthy weight range
• Feel that they are overweight although they are extremely thin

Often these people will:

• Become obsessive about weight, dieting and food
• Limit food intake
• Constantly exercise
• Use laxatives or even vomit or take water pills to keep from gaining weight
• Develop strange eating habits like cutting food into small pieces
• Make excuse to not eat around family and friends

How Anorexia Is Diagnosed

If your family doctor feels you have anorexia they will compare how much you weigh with what you should weigh according to your age and height.  They will also check out your lungs, heart, skin, blood pressure and hair looking for problems that can be caused by anorexia.


Treating Anorexia

Anyone that has anorexia needs treatment.  If you have a family member or you yourself has signs or symptoms of anorexia seek treatment when possible.  The earlier the treatment the better the chance of overcoming anorexia.