What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually
occurs in teenage girls, but it can also occur in teenage boys, and adult women and men.
People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They lose a lot of weight and are
terrified of gaining weight. They believe they are fat even though they are very thin.
Anorexia isn't just a problem with food or weight. It's an attempt to use food and weight
to deal with emotional problems.
What is the difference
between anorexia and bulimia?
People with anorexia starve themselves,
avoid high-calorie foods and exercise constantly. People with bulimia eat huge amounts of
food, but they throw up soon after eating, or take laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to
keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia don't usually lose as much weight as people
with anorexia.
Why
do people get anorexia?
The reason some people get anorexia isn't
known. People with anorexia may believe they would be happier and more successful if they
were thin. They want everything in their lives to be perfect. People who have this
disorder are usually good students. They are involved in many school and community
activities. They blame themselves if they don't get perfect grades, or if other things in
life are not perfect.
What are the problems caused by
anorexia?
Girls with anorexia usually stop having
menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They
may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time, and
they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard
time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are
never hungry. Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger gives them a feeling of
control over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are good at
something--they are good at losing weight. People with severe anorexia may be at risk of
death from starvation.
What is the treatment for anorexia?
Treatment of anorexia is difficult, because
people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early
stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be
successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital. But for successful
treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them.
People with more serious anorexia need care
in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia and bulimia. Treatment
involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexic patients often need
counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing
their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or
their problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that
makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used
along with counseling.
How
can family and friends help?
The most important thing that family and
friends can do to help a person with anorexia is to love them. People with anorexia feel
safe, secure and comfortable with their illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and
gaining weight is seen as loss of control. They may deny they have a problem. People with
anorexia will beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving up the
illness. Family and friends should not give in to the pleading of the anorexic patient.
http://search.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/query?DISAMBIGUATION=true&FUNCTION=search&SERVER2=server2&SERVER1=server1&PARAMETER=anorexia
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