Types Of Anorexia (purgative And Restrictive): How To Identify Them?
What types of anorexia exist? What are their main differences and how can we identify them? Discover the symptoms of the different types of anorexia and what to do about it.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious disorder with serious medical and psychological implications. In fact, anorexia can be life-threatening, being one of the psychological disorders with the highest mortality rate. Luckily, anorexia nervosa is a treatable disorder if it is recognized in time to see a professional psychologist. But are there different types of anorexia ? How can we recognize them?
According to him Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)we can identify two subtypes of anorexia :
restrictive anorexia
A person with restrictive anorexia The amount of food you eat is also limited, and this type of behavior can also be accompanied by very intensive exercise.
Restrictive anorexia symptoms
People who present a restrictive anorexia They usually present the following symptoms:
Restriction of food intake: People with these types of anorexia They often restrict the calories they eat, which causes them to end up with a significantly low body weight.
Fear of gaining weight: The people with restrictive anorexia They usually suffer from a very intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
Alteration in body perception: Anorexia causes people to experience their own weight and body perception greatly distorted. In fact, they often do not recognize the severity since they confuse their low weight with thinness.
Excessive exercise: Not only is a selection made in the foods that are consumed, but people can also do a large amount of exercise to be able to ‘compensate’ for the foods they may have consumed during the day.
Common excuses for not eating: The people with anorexia He usually makes many excuses either to not eat in front of others or to avoid eating in front of his parents (in the case that anorexia occurs in adolescents).
Irritability: Constant calorie restriction can lead to mood swings or more irritable behavior towards others.
Social isolation: The people with anorexia They tend to isolate themselves socially due to their body distortion and the restrictive behaviors they usually engage in to avoid gaining weight.
Physical symptoms: cold intolerance, dizziness or lightheadedness, fainting, chest pain, early satiety, bloating, abdominal pain or discomfort, fatigue, constipation, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, decreased concentration, poor memory.
These are some of the symptoms of restrictive anorexia As we see, people with these types of anorexia usually develop strategies in their daily lives to be able to restrict the foods they consume and thus not gain weight. If you think you may be facing a case of restrictive anorexia, it is important that you see a mental health professional as soon as possible.
Purgative anorexia
In this case the people with anorexia They severely restrict both the amounts and types of foods they eat, but they also purge their food and may even overeat as well. The main characteristic of these types of anorexia is that people often engage in compensatory behavior after eating that may involve the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or self-induced vomiting.
Symptoms of purgative anorexia
People who suffer from prugative anorexia In addition to suffering from symptoms related to food restriction, they often engage in certain compensatory behaviors such as compulsively exercising, overeating, and purging through the use of laxatives, diuretics, and/or self-induced vomiting. That is, in addition to presenting the symptoms of restrictive anorexia, the following can also be identified:
Induced vomiting : After meals, people who suffer from purging anorexia may make themselves vomit to compensate for caloric intake. Therefore it is normal to see how the anorexic people They usually go to the bathroom after meals.
Use laxatives : The people with purging anorexia They often use laxatives as a means to lose weight.
Diuretic abuse: They can also use many diuretics to further reduce their body weight.
Compulsive exercise: Exercising too intensely is another common behavior in people with purging anorexia since they try to compensate for the calories consumed in meals.
If you identify yourself or someone with these behaviors, it is important that you see a mental health professional as soon as possible.
Why do people suffer from anorexia?
There are different causes behind the two types of anorexia that we have mentioned. This disorder has a complex etiology, it occurs due to a combination of biological, developmental, psychological and sociocultural factors that contribute to the development of this disorder. This is why the exact nature of anorexia remains not fully understood. These are some of the factors that can influence its development:
Family background: Studies show that people who have had a family member who has suffered from an eating disorder are more likely to suffer from it.
Obesity: Living with a family member or being overweight and/or obese that means constantly dieting can also lead to anorexia.
Practice a sport with high demands: People who practice sports that are very demanding regarding weight and physical appearance may develop anorexia due to this.
Stress or trauma: Some stressful life events such as the loss of a loved one or separation (from your parents or your partner) can influence the appearance of either of the two. types of anorexia
Adolescence: Concerns about weight and social emphasis on thinness are widespread in Westernized societies. These types of ideas about ‘body perfection’ tend to negatively influence adolescents, since it is a stage where people are most socially vulnerable.
Low self-esteem: The negative perception of oneself can also be one of the factors that ends up causing one of the two. types of anorexia
Because a person who suffers from either types of anorexia that we have mentioned often does not recognize that they have such a disorder, it can be very difficult to get them to seek a diagnosis and treatment.
Furthermore, a person with anorexia You are often at risk of suffering from other mental health disorders such as depression or anxiety. On the other hand, people with purgative or restrictive anorexia are often in danger due to the suicidal tendencies that suffering from this disorder can entail. For this reason, if there is any sign that indicates one of the two types of anorexia, it is essential to go to a mental health professional as soon as possible. Thanks to the involvement of the closest environment, people can seek psychological help and receive treatment that helps them overcome this disorder.
