The imposition of absolutely impossible beauty canons by society is increasingly increasing and although there are many revolutions that we are experiencing that aim to change them, they still generate a strong impact on people’s minds and self-esteem.
One of the direct consequences of these beauty models is the appearance and increase in cases of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa Throughout this article we will talk about the characteristics of this disorder, as well as its symptoms, causes and possible treatments.
Within the classification of eating disorders we find a disorder known as anorexia nervosa, or simply anorexia. Although it occurs mainly in women, this disease affects more and more men, and causes in those who suffer from it the need to restrict your food intake with the consequent weight loss.
The goal of this behavior pattern is to lose body mass, since people with anorexia They feel they are overweight even though they are below the recommended weight for their height and age This makes anorexia a highly dangerous disorder, since it can lead to death due to malnutrition, or cause diseases due to the weakening of the body’s tissues and the immune system.
This decrease in body weight can reach dangerously low levels, since the limitation of food intake is caused by an exacerbated fear of losing weight combined with the distorted perception one has of one’s own body.
This means that no matter how thin or how much weight the person loses, it is never enough, since when looking in the mirror they will continue to perceive a distorted body figure that does not fit reality. Which leads the patient to make all kinds of sacrifices around food.
Among these sacrifices are all types of behaviors aimed at losing weight, or not gaining it. People with anorexia nervosa excessively limit the amount of food ingested. In the same way, They may resort to purgative behaviors the use of laxatives and diuretics and exercising excessively to burn calories.
The reality is that in anorexia the way in which the patient tries to lose weight is not relevant, but rather the exaggerated fear they experience of weight gain.
What differentiates it from bulimia?
Although the purgative behaviors mentioned above can be associated with another eating disorder known as bulimia, there are a series of essential differences between both disorders: In anorexia these purgative episodes do not always occur, while in bulimia it is an essential requirement for the diagnosis. .
In bulimia, the person eats large amounts of food, generally high in calories, in a short period of time. They are called binge eating. However, in anorexia the person avoid eating at all costs and keep exhaustive control of calories
Anorexic people are characterized by having a dangerously low body weight, while those with bulimia usually have a normative weight or even above what is recommended.
What are the symptoms?
As we mentioned previously, the main symptoms of anorexia are related to the refusal or restriction of food intake, low weight and excessive fear of gaining weight.
However, There is a wide variety of symptoms within this eating disorder These symptoms can be classified into two groups: physical symptoms and behavioral and emotional symptoms.
1. Physical symptoms
The physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
2. Behavioral symptoms
It includes all those behaviors that the person carries out with the objective of losing weight. Among them are:
3. Emotional symptoms
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by presenting emotional symptoms that include the following aspects:
Experimentation of a intense fear of gaining weight
Excessive concern about food.
Denial of the feeling of hunger.
Lying about the food eaten
Irritability.
Withdrawal or social isolation.
Alexithymia or inability to experience and express emotions.
depressed mood
Suicidal ideations.
Lack of interest in sexual relations.
How can it be detected?
Some of the symptoms of anorexia nervosa may be difficult to identify at first glance, since the person themselves is aware of them and they do everything possible to hide them
However, there are a series of warning signs or behaviors that we can look for if we are not medical professionals and want to determine if someone in our environment suffers from this condition.
Among these signs are:
Skip meals constantly.
Make some excuse not to eat.
Rigorous selection of foods, generally low in calories.
Continually weigh yourself
Continuous complaints regarding your weight.
Avoid eating in public.
Change your dress codes using more and more layers.
What are the causes?
At the moment it has not been possible to determine a specific or exact cause that causes the appearance of anorexia nervosa, so it is hypothesized that there are a series of factors, both biological and psychological and the environment that precipitates it.
The experience of traumatic personal or social events or events with a very high emotional burden can play a fundamental role in determining the appearance of this eating disorder.
Furthermore, recent studies point to the possibility that there are a series of genes associated with the behaviors typical of anorexia, such as compulsions, depression, perfectionism and emotional sensitivity. However, at the moment it has not been possible to find any gene or organic pathology directly related to anorexia.
Is there a treatment?
anorexia nervosa It is a very serious disorder which, if not treated, can have fatal consequences for the person. To the point that statistics reveal that 10% of untreated cases of severe anorexia end in the death of the patient.
Due to the seriousness that the situation can reach, It is essential to make an effective diagnosis and start treatment sooner.
A key piece in the effectiveness of the treatment is the involvement of the patient’s environment in the treatment. This intervention includes psychotherapy, in which psychological work is carried out on the emotional and cognitive aspects of the disorder, including distorted body perception.
In the same way, it must be carried out a somatic monitoring and the physical state of the person as well as the development of a series of nutritional guidelines that help the person in their reconciliation with food.
Finally, in some cases, pharmacological treatment using antidepressants or anxiolytics can be used, which reduce the intensity of the symptoms and facilitate psychological work.
Unfortunately, anorexia nervosa is a disorder with a high risk of relapse, so both family members and medical professionals should be attentive to the patient’s development.
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