What is Anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. Individuals with anorexia place a high value on controlling their weight and shape, using extreme efforts that tend to significantly interfere with their lives. Individuals with this condition ensure that the maintain low weight by severely restricting the amount of food they eat. They may also control calorie intake by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas. Exercising excessively is also common among people with anorexia. No matter how much weight is lost, the person continues to fear weight gain.
Anorexia is an extremely unhealthy and sometimes life-threatening practice that people use to cope with emotional problems. Individuals with anorexia equate thinness with self-worth. Although this eating disorder can be very difficult to overcome, if treated, individuals can gain a better sense of who they are, return to healthier eating habits and reverse some of anorexia’s serious complications. What is Anorexia nervosa?
The symptoms of anorexia include extreme weight loss, thin appearance, abnormal blood counts, fatigue, bluish discoloration of the fingers, soft, downy hair covering the body, absence of menstruation, constipation and abdominal pain, yellowish skin, irregular heart rhythms, and low blood pressure. The exact cause of anorexia is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. There may be genetic changes that make some people at higher risk of developing anorexia. This includes genetical changes that cause people to gravitate towards perfectionism, sensitivity and perseverance. Some people with anorexia may have obsessive-compulsive personality traits that make it easier to stick to strict diets and forgo food despite being hungry. Modern Western culture emphasizes thinness and associates success and worth with being thin. Peer pressure may help fuel the desire to be thin, particularly among young girls. APA