Anorexia Nervosa

What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa is characterised by an intense fear of gaining weight, resulting in severe restrictions on food intake. There is a relentless pursuit of thinness often to the point of self-starvation. Despite being significantly underweight, they may still perceive themselves as overweight causing them to have a distorted body image.

How to identify anorexia nervosa?

• Intense fear of weight gain along with excessive weight loss to the point of being underweight for the age, height and body type.

• A distorted body image. 

• Compensatory behaviour in response to the fear which includes restrictive eating patterns with significant focus on calories, excessive exercising routine even when physically exhausted or undernourished.

• Complete avoidance of certain types of food. 

• Social withdrawal.

• Physical symptoms which includes thinning of hair, disturbed menstrual cycle and blood parameters.  

Why does anorexia nervosa occur?

One of the major causes of developing anorexia nervosa stems from discord in family relationships and the dynamics shared. Low self-esteem, perfectionism, high levels of anxiety also play a role in one developing anorexia nervosa. In addition, the societal pressures and media’s emphasis on thinness and beauty also contribute it.

When to seek help?

While one can be selective in their eating habits, it becomes a concern when one starts to experience excessive worry about gaining weight. There can be significant change in their eating habits along with following strict behaviors and routines to maintain their ideal weight such as excessive exercising and using medications like laxatives etc. This can also severely impact physical health related parameters like delayed or missed menses and disturbed blood reports. 

What is the treatment for anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa requires a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses both the physical and psychosocial aspects of the disorder. Screening of the patient for their physical health should be the initial along with starting the psychological and psychiatric treatment for eating disorder. Most effective therapies for eating disorders include Cognitive behavioural therapy and family therapy. Inclusion of nutritional guidance is an important aspect of the treatment to help identify and improve the nutritional requirement.