Anorexia – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

The misleading Latin term “anorexia” means lack of appetite , but anorexia goes well beyond this phenomenon and generally denotes a self-induced and controlled severe weight loss and the compulsive control of body weight, which is extremely reduced.

Sometimes, however, obsession with the figure is just a secondary goal for those suffering from anorexia. Anorexia offers those affected the gain of self-control, by means of their eating habits they are able to dominate and control something in their environment.

As a rule, anorexia sufferers have a self-perception disorder because they consider themselves too fat despite being underweight, which is usually a health hazard. In the case of anorexia, the compulsive control over body weight and the attempt to reduce it leads to typical behaviors in the sufferers. These range from extreme sporting excesses, the use of laxatives, ritualized and unusual eating measures to complete refusal of food. In the worst case, this can even lead to death.

Doctors and therapists treat anorexia with medication (antidepressants) and psychotherapy.

causes

Anorexia is caused by a disturbed perception of one’s own body. Low self-esteem is directly related to this. The reason for this, in turn, is mainly pathological behavior within the family.But cultural models such as underweight models can also trigger anorexia. Experiences of violence, especially sexual abuse, often play a role. However, susceptibility to the disease is said to be a genetic predisposition.

The greatest risk group for anorexia is female teenagers and young women. In general, girls and women between the ages of 15 and 25 are considered to be particularly at risk.

The onset of puberty, which is already problematic for young people, causes major changes both mentally and physically. The loss of childlike forms and the developing female curves and curves cause fear and shame and sometimes lead to a distorted self-perception that leads to the outbreak of anorexia can lead.

The onset of anorexia can also be a normal diet that gets out of control and leads to the delusion that the weight has to be reduced more and more.

symptoms and course

Anorexia is an eating disorder that primarily affects young teenage girls and young adults. A disturbed self-perception and the idealization of certain, very thin stars is accompanied by behavior in which those affected eat as little and as little energy as possible. Anorexics often eat no more than 200-500 calories on an average day and try to work them off as best they can, for example by going for long walks or refusing to sit or lie down.

Those affected motivate each other in forums and give each other tips on how best to ignore the nagging hunger and what excuses help when friends or relatives want to get them to eat (so-called pro-ana forums). Those affected lose a large amount of weight in a relatively short period of time, lose muscle mass, and suffer from an inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals . Menstruation stops, skin and hair become brittle, thermoregulation is disturbed, so that anorexics freeze badly. Painful water retention and difficulty concentrating in anorexia are also common.

Anorexia is an insidious disease. It starts with the feeling of being overweight, so at first people become very mindful of their food and their weight, until it becomes an obsession and their thoughts are only occupied with losing weight and the fear of gaining weight . Anorexics lose weight more and more as the disease progresses, and their state of health deteriorates massively. The body tries to warm itself through the so-called “lanugo hair”. The amount of calories consumed can be reduced even further. Quite a few anorexics die because their weakened body or their cardiovascular system cannot overcome an infectioncan no longer work with the messed up mineral balance. Anorexia is a very dangerous disease.

When to the doctor?

If you have symptoms that indicate anorexia, you should consult a specialist. The symptoms are often insidious and not always easily recognizable for relatives of those affected without insight into the illness. In the case of persistent refusal of food, visible emaciation and denial of the issue, the family doctor is the first point of contact. He can make an initial assessment of the physical condition and, if necessary, refer further. In the case of anorexia, it may also be necessary to consult a doctor against the will of those affected. This is especially true when minors suffer from anorexia or people who are obviously unaware of the severity of their condition.

Untreated anorexia can lead to death from organ failure. For this reason, if you continue to refuse solid food and liquids, it may also be advisable to call the emergency doctor and arrange for accommodation with a specialist. Whether the legal requirements for this are met must be clarified in the context of appropriate investigations. An acute self-endangerment usually justifies compulsory admission of those affected, even against their will.

Diagnose

Anorexia is one of the psychological eating disorders. Extreme underweight is the first criterion for the doctor to recognize anorexia. A body weight that is 15% below average (normal weight) and a body mass index below 17.5 are symptoms that indicate anorexia. In the patient consultation, the doctor investigates other symptoms such as forced vomiting. Mental illnesses in the patient’s family are also important for recording anorexia. Pubescent girls are most likely to develop anorexia.

complications

Anorexia is a life-threatening condition. It is often not possible to convince the affected person of a long-term therapy. Anorexia affects almost every inner bodily process. Therefore, medical complications can occur at various levels as a consequence of the disease.

The list of complications from anorexia is long. Permanent damage to health can be expected if the patient persists with his strategy of refusing food. Anorexia causes a serious deficiency in the body. This has drastic consequences on the organic level. Those affected often literally starve themselves to death. They die of heart failure, lung or kidney failure from years of malnutrition.

The milder complications of anorexia include hormone and menstrual disorders, anemia, osteoporosis and increasing muscle weakness. It can cause insomnia , hair loss or cramps. In anorexia with bulimic vomiting, tooth damage and chronic gastritis can cause complications. Potassium deficiency, together with the altered acid level, often leads to cardiac arrhythmias .

Kidney damage or chronic kidney failure is usually a result of the abuse of laxatives and water tablets. A complication of misuse can be a circulatory collapse due to heavy electrolyte losses. The intestines can become diseased as a result of chronic inflammatory reactions. Even if a woman is considered to have overcome anorexia after long-term treatment, the long-term consequence may remain the inability to bear children.

treatment and therapy

Since anorexia is a psychosomatic illness, the causes of which are primarily to be found in the patient’s personality and in psychological determinations, therapy must also start here. Forced weight gain, for example through force-feeding, must be avoided as a matter of urgency, as this will temporarily stop the weight loss, but it can lead to deep emotional injuries, depression or, in the worst case, suicide. On the other hand, therapies that try to heal anorexia by treating the diseased psyche are recommended. In this regard, there are various models of how anorexia can be treated.

There is outpatient psychotherapy with weekly sessions, which aims to discuss the problems and background of anorexia and to show possible solutions. This therapy model is used either in one-to-one sessions or through group sessions, which enable exchange with people who also suffer from anorexia.

Another option that exists in acute cases of anorexia and extreme health hazards is inpatient hospitalization, which can ensure constant supervision of the patient suffering from anorexia and prevent organic damage. In this regard, there is a wide range of specialized clinics that are specifically dedicated to psychosomatic addictions such as anorexia.

outlook and prognosis

Anorexia is a disease that has deep psychological roots. The road to complete healing is long and includes numerous units such as therapy, bodywork and finding new tasks for those affected. However, with good medical and social care, the prognosis is good. The prerequisite is that those affected by anorexia are really ready to get well. They have to get to the point mentally that they are willing to look into their inner workings and understand deep inner processes in order to fathom the causes of anorexia.

Therapy primarily involves building up the patient’s self-esteem. They need to learn to see themselves as human regardless of their body image. They also need to find ways to fill their lives with meaningful activities. Intensive care is extremely important. Great trust should be built up in the treating physicians and therapists. If those affected manage to create a stable social environment and accept themselves, the chance of a relapse is rather low. Nevertheless, the topic of nutrition and body will play a major role for the formerly anorexic for the rest of their lives. However, if done in a healthy way, it poses no danger.

prevention

Measures to prevent anorexia nervosa consist primarily of strengthening self-confidence and body awareness and image, especially in young people, and getting them used to a healthy relationship with their body and food intake at an early stage.Above all, the focus should be on conveying values ​​and critically reflecting on the ideal of beauty that is in the spirit of the times, which is an important preventive measure for anorexia.

Preventive interventions against anorexia are also sports that increase self-esteem and specifically train body awareness, which strengthens self-image and the relationship with one’s own body in order to reduce the risk of developing anorexia.