Anorexia nervosa, often known as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by underweight, dietary restriction, body image disturbance, anxiety of gaining weight, and an overwhelming desire to be small. This perceptual symptom is defined by the DSM-5 as “disturbance in the way one’s body weight or form is experienced.” Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa sometimes deny having a weight problem. Women frequently experience a cessation of menstruation. to make the choice on their behalf Anorexia’s etiology is presently unclear. Anorexia frequently develops as a result of a big life change or stressful incident. Anorexia treatment entails returning the patient to a healthy weight, treating underlying psychological issues, and addressing habits that contribute to the condition. Sometimes patients need to be admitted to a hospital to regain their weight. Such an intervention might be quite upsetting for both anorexia patients.
and healthcare workers when provided against the patient’s will while restrained. Some persons with anorexia will have a single episode and then recover, but others may have repeating bouts that last for years. It is predicted that 0.3% to 4.3% of women and 0.2% to 0.3% of men in Western countries may experience it at some time in their lives. In a given year, around 0.4% of young women are afflicted, and it is predicted that women are impacted 10 times more frequently than males. Eating disorders also raise the chance of mortality from a variety of other reasons, including suicide.
In recent years, evolutionary psychiatry has emerged as a new scientific discipline that studies mental diseases from an evolutionary standpoint. It is still argued if eating disorders like anorexia have evolutionary functions or are issues caused by modern living. Symptoms and signs Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss to the point of starvation. A person suffering from anorexia nervosa may display a variety of signs and symptoms, the severity of which varies and may be present but not easily evident.
Anorexia nervosa, as well as the malnutrition caused by self-imposed starvation, can cause problems in all major organ systems. Hypokalaemia, or a drop in blood potassium levels, is a sign of anorexia nervosa. A significant drop in potassium levels can cause irregular heartbeats, constipation, fatigue, muscle degeneration, and paralysis. Signs and symptoms can be classified as physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, or perceptual:
Physical signs and symptoms A low body mass index in relation to one’s age and height Amenorrhea is a sign of chronic weight reduction that causes menstruation to cease. Hair thinning, as well as dry hair and skin Fear of gaining even the smallest amount of weight; taking all precautionary precautions to prevent gaining weight or becoming “overweight” Rapid and consistent weight loss
Lanugo: fine, silky hair that grows over the face and body. Difficulties with abstract reasoning and issue solving Thinking that is rigid and inflexible Inadequate self-esteem Perfectionism and hypercriticism Affective manifestations Depression Disgusted with oneself or one’s physique Anxiety problems erratic mood swings Dysregulation of emotions Alexithymia
Behavioral manifestations Despite being underweight or at a healthy weight, you may face food limitations. Food rituals include chopping food into small pieces, avoiding to eat in front of others, and hiding or dumping food. Purging with laxatives, diet tablets, ipecac syrup, or diuretics after eating, or engaging in self-induced vomiting Excessive activity, including micro-exercising, such as making little persistent motions with one’s fingers or toes. Self-harming or self-hatred Solitude: avoids friends and family, becoming increasingly reclusive and secretive. Observable symptoms Self-perception of being overweight, but being underweight in reality Interoception is altered.
