ANOREXIA ANOREXIA NERVOSANERVOSA

WHAT IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA?WHAT IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA?

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that describes an eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight.

The term anorexia is of Greek origin: OREXIS meaning a lack of desire to eat.

Anorexia nervosa is frequently shortened to "anorexia" in the popular media. This is technically incorrect, as the term "anorexia" used separately refers to the medical symptom of reduced appetite (which therefore is distinguishable from anorexia nervosa in being non-psychiatric).

CAUSESCAUSES Social influencesSocial influences

Occupational goalsOccupational goals

Genetic or family historyGenetic or family history

Psychological factorPsychological factor

Categories of Categories of anorecticsanorectics

There are two categories of anorectics: There are two categories of anorectics:

AnorexicsAnorexic people starve themselves and eat very little.Example :Eating simply half a cracker for their meals.

BulimicsBulimic people overeat but they then force themselves to throw up what they have eaten. They can eat almost everything in their cabinets and then force themselves to throw up so they do not gain weight. Some bulimics eat very normally but after each time they eat, they will go to the toilets and throw up.

Behaviors and Behaviors and Symptoms of Symptoms of Anorexic'sAnorexic's

Self Starvation  Self Starvation  Restricting and dieting  Restricting and dieting  Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body

image  image  Refusal to eat  Refusal to eat  Fear of Food  Fear of Food  Excessive facial and body hair (growing hair in weird places ie: Excessive facial and body hair (growing hair in weird places ie:

on the lower back, knuckles etc…)  on the lower back, knuckles etc…)  Compulsive exercise  Compulsive exercise  Abnormal weight loss  Abnormal weight loss  Gaunt-like features (example: cheeks sinking in due to weight Gaunt-like features (example: cheeks sinking in due to weight

loss)  loss)  Sensitivity to the cold  Sensitivity to the cold  Absent or irregular menstruation  Absent or irregular menstruation  Loss of consciousness (fainting)  Loss of consciousness (fainting)  Hair loss  Hair loss 

Behaviors and Symptoms of Behaviors and Symptoms of Bulimic'sBulimic's

Preoccupation with food  Preoccupation with food  Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body

image  image  Bingeing on large amounts of food- consuming sometimes 3000 Bingeing on large amounts of food- consuming sometimes 3000

calories or more in one sitting (usually in secret)  calories or more in one sitting (usually in secret)  Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals  Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals  Vomiting after bingeing  Vomiting after bingeing  Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills  Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills  Ingesting drugs to induce vomiting (ex: using Ipecac)  Ingesting drugs to induce vomiting (ex: using Ipecac)  Absent or irregular menstruation  Absent or irregular menstruation  Compulsive exercise  Compulsive exercise  Vomit smell on breath  Vomit smell on breath  Swollen salivary glands  Swollen salivary glands  Swollen Cheeks  Swollen Cheeks  Broken blood vessels in the eyes  Broken blood vessels in the eyes 

TreatmentsTreatmentsAnorexiaAnorexiaThe treatment of anorexia has three main phases:The treatment of anorexia has three main phases: Restore weight loss Restore weight loss Treat psychological issues such as depression, self-esteem, and Treat psychological issues such as depression, self-esteem, and

interpersonal conflicts interpersonal conflicts Achieve long-term recovery and remission Achieve long-term recovery and remission

The use of anti-depressants for treating anorexia should be The use of anti-depressants for treating anorexia should be considered only after weightconsidered only after weight

gain has been established.gain has been established.

BulimiaBulimiaThe main goal in the treatment of bulimia is to eliminate binging and The main goal in the treatment of bulimia is to eliminate binging and

purgingpurging

Establish healthy and consistent eating habits, i.e. three meals a Establish healthy and consistent eating habits, i.e. three meals a day at regular times day at regular times

Encourage healthy, not excessive, exercise Encourage healthy, not excessive, exercise Treat psychological issues such as mood or anxiety disordersTreat psychological issues such as mood or anxiety disorders