|
|
Anorexia Nervosa
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia (a-neh-RECK-see ah) nervosa, typically called anorexia,
is a type of eating disorder that mainly affects girls and young
women. A person with this disorder has an intense fear of gaining
weight and limits the food she eats. She
- has a low body weight
- refuses to keep a normal body weight
- is extremely afraid of becoming fat
- believes she is fat even when she's very thin
- misses three (menstrual) periods in a row—for girls/women
who have started having their periods.
What causes it?
Anorexia is more than just a problem with food. It's a way of using
food or starving oneself to feel more in control of her life and
to ease tension, anger, and anxiety. While there is no single known
cause of anorexia, several things may contribute to the development
of the disorder:
- Biology. Several biological factors, including genetics
and other related hormones, may contribute in the onset the disorder.
- Culture. Some cultures in the U.S. have an ideal of extreme
thinness. Women may define themselves on how beautiful they are.
- Personal feelings. Someone with anorexia may feel badly
about herself, feel helpless, and hate the way she looks. She
has unrealistic expectations of herself and strives for perfection.
She feels worthless, despite achievements and perceives a social
pressure to be thin.
- Stressful events or life changes. Things like starting
a new school or job or being teased to traumatic events like rape
can lead to the onset of anorexia.
- Families. People with a mother or sister with anorexia
are more likely to develop the disorder. Parents who think appearance
is very important, diet themselves, and criticize their children's
bodies are more likely to have a child with anorexia.
What are signs of anorexia?
A person with anorexia will have many of these signs:
- Looks a lot thinner
- Uses extreme measures to lose weight
- Makes herself throw up
- Takes pills to urinate or have a bowel movement (BM)
- Takes diet pills
- Doesn’t eat or follows a strict diet
- Exercises a lot
- Weighs food and counts calories
- Moves food around the plate; doesn't eat it
- Has a distorted body image
- Thinks she's fat when she's too thin
- Wears baggy clothes to hide appearance
- Fears gaining weight
- Weighs herself many times a day
- Acts differently
- Talks about weight and food all the time
- Won't eat in front of others
- Acts moody or depressed
- Doesn't socialize
What happens to your body with anorexia?
The body doesn't get the energy from foods that it needs, so it
slows down. Look at the picture to find out how anorexia affects
your health.
Can someone with anorexia get better?
Yes. People with this disorder can get better. The treatment
depends on what the person needs. The person must get back to a
healthy weight. Many times, eating disorders happen with other problems,
like depression and anxiety problems. These problems are treated
along with the anorexia and may involve medicines that help reduce
feelings of depression and anxiety.
With outpatient care, the patient goes to the hospital during the
day for treatment, but lives at home. Sometimes, the patient goes
to a hospital and stays there for treatment. Different types of
health care providers, like doctors, nutritionists, and therapists,
will help the patient get better. These providers will help the
patient regain the weight, improve physical health and nutrition,
learn healthy eating patterns, and cope with thoughts and feelings
related to the disorder. After leaving the hospital, the patient
continues to get help from her providers. Individual counseling
can also help someone with anorexia. Counseling may involve the
whole family too, especially if the patient is young. Support groups
may also be a part of treatment. Support groups help patients and
families talk about their experiences and help each other get better.
Can women who had anorexia in the past still get pregnant?
It depends. Women who have fully recovered from anorexia have a
better chance of getting pregnant. While a woman has active anorexia,
she does not get her usual period and doesn't normally ovulate,
so it would be harder to get pregnant. However, she may get pregnant
as she regains weight because her reproductive system is getting
back to normal. After they gain back some weight, some women may
skip or miss their periods, which can cause problems getting pregnant.
If this happens, a woman should see her doctor.
Can anorexia hurt a baby when the mother is pregnant?
If a woman with active anorexia gets pregnant, the baby and mother
can be affected. The baby is more likely to be born at a low weight
and born early. The mother is more likely to have a miscarriage,
deliver by C-section, and have depression after the baby is born.
What should I do if I think someone I know has anorexia?
If you know someone like Jen, you can help. Follow these steps from
the National Eating Disorders Association:
- Set a time to talk. Set aside a time to privately talk about
your concerns with your friend. Be open and honest. Make sure
you talk in a place away from distractions.
- Tell your friend about your concerns. Tell your friend about
specific times when you were worried about her eating or exercise
behaviors. Explain that you think these things may show a problem
that needs professional help.
- Ask your friend talk about these concerns. She could talk to
a counselor or doctor who knows about eating issues. If you feel
comfortable, offer to help your friend make an appointment or
go with her to her appointment.
- Avoid conflicts or a battle of the wills with your friend. If
your friend doesn’t admit to a problem, repeat your feelings
and the reasons for them. Be a supportive listener.
- Don’t place shame, blame, or guilt on your friend. Do not
use accusatory “you” statements like, “You just
need to eat.” Or, “You are acting irresponsibly.”
Instead, use “I” statements like, “I’m concerned
about you because you refuse to eat breakfast or lunch.”
Or, “It makes me afraid to hear you vomiting.”
- Avoid giving simple solutions. Don’t say, "If you'd
just stop, then everything would be fine!"
- Express your continued support. Remind your friend that you
care and want her to be healthy and happy.
|
