What is Anorexia?

An eating disorder resulting from which people become obsessive about their food and weight is known as anorexia nervosa. People suffering from anorexia nervosa become obsessive about maintaining an abnormal weight for their age and height. People suffering from this eating disorder either exercise excessively or starve themselves to continue losing weight or prevent themselves from gaining weight.

Anorexia nervosa is an unhealthy way of coping with emotional issues. People suffering from anorexia nervosa feel they will be valued more if they are thinner. Overcoming anorexia nervosa is not an easy task. However, the unhealthy eating habits that people take up as a result of this disorder and the severe complications that are caused by this disorder can be reversed through proper treatment.

What are The Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?

As mentioned, people suffering from this eating disorder severely restrict the amount of food they eat, which results in weight loss. Often, they also exercise excessively to lose weight. Like bulimia, people with anorexia can also binge and purge. People with anorexia will also try to vomit after they eat to control caloric intake, or they might misuse diuretics, enemas, or laxatives.

Numerous behavioural, emotional, and physical anorexia signs and symptoms can help diagnose this eating disorder.

Physical Symptoms

People suffering from anorexia experience the following physical symptoms:

• Abnormal blood counts
• Constipation
• Dehydration
• Dry skin
• Excessive weight loss
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Low blood pressure
• Osteoporosis
• Swelling of arms or legs

Behavioural and Emotional Symptoms

People suffering from anorexia showcase the following behavioural and emotional symptoms:

• Depression
• Denial of hunger
• Excessive exercising
• Fear of gaining weight
• Irritability
• Social withdrawal

People suffering from anorexia usually do their best to disguise their eating habits, physical problems, or thinness. This is the reason noticing the signs and symptoms of anorexia is not an easy task.Thus, certain red flags to watch out for can also help determine if someone is suffering from anorexia. People suffering from anorexia:

• Adopt rigid eating or meal rituals
• Avoid eating in public
• Complain about being fat even though they are not
• Cook savoury meals for others but refuse to eat
• Eat only particular foods that are low in calories and fat
• Skip meals frequently
• Check their weight repeatedly

What Are The Causes of Anorexia Nervosa?

It is not known what exactly causes anorexia nervosa. It is probably a combination of biological, environmental, and psychological factors that leads to this eating disorder.

Biological: Some people can become more prone to developing anorexia because of genetic changes. However, it is uncertain whether genes cause anorexia. It is believed that some people are genetically more sensitive and tend to want to look perfect in every way. It is also thought that anorexia is linked to serotonin, one of the neurochemicals which cause depression.

Environmental: Thinness seems to be flaunted by Modern Western culture. Images of thin actors and models can be seen all over the media. Thus, people who develop anorexia believe they will only be successful and worthy if they are thin. The desire to thin down in people with anorexia is also fueled by peer pressure.

Psychological: Anorexia, at times, is also caused by certain emotional factors. Women suffering from obsessive-compulsive issues are more prone to anorexia since they can easily stick to a diet and eat.

How is Anorexia Nervosa Treated?

Several types of treatment become necessary for those suffering from anorexia. People must be admitted to a hospital emergency room if they suffer from a very severe case of anorexia.

The treatment of a patient suffering from anorexia includes:

• Family-based therapy
• Group therapy
• Individual therapy
• Medical care
• Medications
• Medical Cannabis
• Psychotherapy
• Restoration of a healthy weight

Medical Cannabis could assist in treating anorexia as cannabis stimulates hunger. As per reports patients consuming cannabis, Their food intake was 40% higher than non-cannabis consumers. People can consume cannabis legally by using their medical cannabis card, but treating people who are suffering from anorexia, often refuse treatment, which is one of the biggest challenges when treating this eating disorder.

Bottom Line!

Leaving anorexia untreated can result in several complications, so the sooner it is treated, the better because, in the most severe cases, it can even be fatal. Thus, anorexia is quite a complicated eating disorder, and the above information explains its signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment options.