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Anorexia Nervosa PowerPoint By: Tyiana Combs, Remy Hill,

Diamond Thomas, and Tara Byard 7-5

+ The Basics of Anorexia There are many theories on the causes of Anorexia

Nervosa. The exact cause is yet to be discovered. One’s susceptibility to this disorder is determined by genetics. Some studies suggest that Anorexia many stem from a brain dysfunction.

Some early possible signs of anorexia include problems feeding as an infant, a history of under eating, and maternal depressive symptoms. 95% of those affected are females. Without proper treatment, Anorexia is life-threatening.

People suffering from anorexia are at least 15% below the average body weight, believe they are overweight when in fact they are severely underweight.

There are two types of Anorexia: the Restricting type and the Binging/Purging type.

+Restricting vs. Purging Type

+Possible Causes of Anorexia Those with Anorexia often have low levels of serotonin and

norepinephrine, bot related to one’s well-being, and high levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.

It is common for someone with Anorexia to be a perfectionist, over-achiever, and people pleasers. The media tends to glorify skinny celebrities, and many believe that because Anorexics tend to do what they are told, this pressure to be thin may cause some people to develop Anorexia.

Genetics impact the likely hood of someone developing Anorexia. Some scientists feel that if someone has a certain combination of genes working together, they are more likely to develop Anorexia than someone without them. What triggers this can vary, in many cases someone commenting on their weight will throw them into this terrible disease. Someone with a sibling suffering from an eating disorder, they are 10 to 20 times more likely to develop one as well.

+Detecting Anorexia: The Symptoms

Rushes to the bathroom after meals, or leaves the table. Runs water and returns smelling minty fresh from mouthwash or mints, to disguise that they threw up

Pretends to eat, avoids eating, lies about eating, makes excuses to get out of eating

Obsessed with food, even though eats very little. Uses and abuses dieting drugs such as appetite

reducers, laxatives, diuretics or diet pills Dramatic weight loss that lacks a medical cause Frets over the slightest flaw in physical

appearance Very critical of their appearance and constantly

feels that they are not thin enough

Someone suffering from Anorexia may do/show/have one of the following signs and symptoms:

+ Detecting Anorexia: The SymptomsSomeone suffering from Anorexia may do/show/have

one of the following signs and symptoms:

Complains that they are fat or overweight when they are very underweight

Refusal to sustain a minimally normal body weight.

Obsession with calorie counting, measures food portions, weighs themselves frequently

Denies having an eating disorder or being too thin

Has an inaccurate body image (i.e. believes they are overweight although they are dangerously thin)

Depression, irritability, anxiety and/or fatigue

Lower attention span.

+How Anorexia Effects Your Body

Taken from WomensHealth.gov

+ Is it a Diet or Anorexia?Anorexia usually begins as a diet.

+Treating Anorexia Nervosa To rid someone of Anorexia, you must bring them

back to a healthy weight, explore and fix any psychological issues, and make them realize that they are thin enough so that they do not return to Anorexia.

Counseling and therapy may also be effective options.

Teaching the patient healthy eating habits, nutrition, and balanced meals through nutritional therapy helps them return to a healthy weight and develop habits that will keep them away from Anorexia.

Sometimes just being there to listen and guide the person can get them back on track towards a healthy lifestyle.

+Treating Anorexia With TherapyCognitive therapy

This type of therapy educates the patient on what Anorexia is, what their thought process is, and what Anorexia can do to the Human body. It is intended to increase their self-esteem, sense of control, and rid them of their distorted body image.

Behavior therapy

Encourages the patient to develop healthy eating habits by rewarding them and reiterating its importance. It also teaches them to monitor their own eating so that after treatment they maintain healthy eating habits. The patient is taught what might trigger their Anorexia, and how to cope with these triggers.

+Treating Anorexia With TherapyGroup therapy

This type of therapy is intended to make the patient feel supported and less isolated. A group of Anorexics are able to seek help from each other, and learn from other members experiences. Although they are supervised, this creates a comfortable setting, because everyone around them understands what they are going through.

Family therapy

This type of therapy explores the patients family an insures that nothing in the family is preventing recovery or contributing to the problem. Some sessions are held without the patient.

+ How to Help Someone Suffering from Anorexia

NervosaCalmly and gently persuade friend or family member to seek professional help.

Instead of taking a bold approach, gently explain your concerns. It will go over better, because they are probably in denial.

If someone suffering from Anorexia is willing to talk, you should be a listener. Do not judge them, gain their trust. Eventually, after talking to you for a while, you should be able to bring them to the next step of treatment, therapy or counseling.