anorexia definition and symptoms
Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by a low weight, fear of gaining weight, a strong desire to be thin, and food restriction. Many people with anorexia see themselves as overweight even though they are in fact underweight. Anorexia is an eating disorder that causes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height. People with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise too much or use other ways to lose weight. Not the kind of weight loss you’re looking for though, because it’s unhealthy to deprive your mind and body of food. This weight loss makes the patient appear gaunt, ill, pale, and even concaved in their midsections. Patients can quickly go from a size 10 to a size 2 while suffering from anorexia in a matter of weeks. 10 Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa. It’s sad that pretty much everyone knows a person that is always obsessed with their body image; they are at the gym all day, counting calories, or always battling an illness in lieu of not eating properly. This illness is called “Anorexia Nervosa” and can be fatal if severe cases are not treated in time. This eating disorder mostly effects women, young ladies in their teens to early twenties, but some men do suffer from it as well. Other psychological causes of Anorexia includes low self-esteem, feeling like there is lack of control, depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Peer pressure and constant pressure media and others around can lead to low self-esteem and other psychological symptoms and causes eating disorders like Anorexia. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by attempts to lose weight, to the point of starvation. A person with anorexia nervosa may exhibit a number of signs and symptoms, the type and severity of which may vary and may be present but not readily apparent. Anorexia nervosa, and the associated malnutrition that results from self-imposed starvation, can cause complications in every major organ system in the body. Most people with anorexia deny that they have an eating disorder. They often seek treatment only when their condition is serious. Goals of treatment are to restore normal body weight and eating habits. A weight gain of 1 to 3 pounds (lb) per week is considered a safe goal. Different programs have been designed to treat anorexia. To prevent weight gain or to continue losing weight, people with anorexia usually severely restrict the amount of food they eat. They may control calorie intake by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas. They may also try to lose weight by exercising excessively. Some people with anorexia binge and purge, similar to individuals who have bulimia nervosa. However, people with anorexia generally struggle with an abnormally low body weight, while individuals with bulimia typically are normal to above normal weight. 1 If the person is young, therapy may involve the whole family. The family is seen as a part of the solution, instead of the cause of the eating disorder.  Support groups may also be a part of treatment. In support groups, patients and families meet and share what they have been through. Anorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh) nervosa — often simply called anorexia — is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body weight.
Anorexia is an eating disorder that causes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height and symptoms low self-esteem.