Anorexia nervosa is an eating and psychological disorder that involves signs such as not wanting to eat, eating very little and obsessing about losing weight, even when the weight is adequate or below ideal.
Most of the time, anorexia is difficult to identify, not only for those who have the disorder, since they can only see their body in the wrong way, but also for family members and friends, who only start to suspect anorexia when the person begins to show physical signs of extreme thinness.
Thus, knowing what signs to identify in a person with anorexia is an important step in identifying this disorder in the early stages of development and helping in the search for help, which should normally be initiated by a psychologist.
How to know if it is anorexia
To help identify a case of anorexia nervosa, check the existing signs and symptoms:
- 1. Look in the mirror and feel fat, even with weight inside or below the recommended.
No Yes
- 2. Don't eat for fear of getting fat.
No Yes
- 3. Prefer not to have company at mealtime.
No Yes
- 4. Count the calories before eating.
No Yes
- 5. Refuse meals and deny hunger.
No Yes
- 6. Weight loss a lot and fast.
No Yes
- 7. Intense fear of gaining weight.
No Yes
- 8. Do intense physical exercise.
No Yes
- 9. Take, without prescription, weight loss drugs, diuretics or laxatives.
No Yes
- 10. Induce vomiting after meals.
No Yes
One of the most important indicators of the presence of anorexia is the excessive concern about diet and weight, which is seen as a normal level of concern for those who have anorexia, even when the weight is below adequate. Anoretics typically have a more introverted personality, are more anxious and are prone to obsessive behaviors.
Possible causes
Anorexia does not yet have a definite cause, but it usually arises during adolescence, when charges with the new body shape increase.
This disorder affects mainly women, and can be related to factors such as:
- Pressure from family and friends to lose weight;
- Anxiety;
- Depression.
People who have suffered some type of abuse or who are highly charged by society in relation to the body, such as models, are more likely to develop anorexia.
Another common eating disorder is bulimia, which can even be mistaken for anorexia. However, in these cases what happens is that the person, although obsessed with his own weight, eats well, but then causes vomiting after meals. Better understand the differences between anorexia and bulimia.
How the treatment is done
Treatment for anorexia nervosa usually includes therapy to improve behavior in relation to diet and body acceptance, and there may be a need to take medication against anxiety and depression, and the intake of dietary supplements to supply the body's lack of nutrients.
During treatment, it is very important that the family is present to support the person and understand the problems they face in anorexia. The treatment of this disease can be long, and can last for months or years, and it is common to have relapses in which the extreme concern with the weight appears again. See more details about the treatment.
Check out the following video for other tips that can help in the treatment of anorexia:
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