Anorexia involves a loss of appetite that is abnormal.
Anorexia consists of a pathological reduction in appetite that can be linked to different diseases and physiological states, which can lead the person to begin to eat less food . The term has its origin in the Greek language and is made up of two words: a / an (a negation ) and orégo ( "to desire" ).
The most common cause of anorexia is the natural satiety experienced after eating a certain amount of food. This is a characteristic of physiology known as postprandial anorexia .
However, anorexia can appear when the subject suffers from inflammation of the mucosa of their intestines, an infection or a neoplastic process. Also when the person uses drugs or develops certain psychological imbalances, such as depression or anorexia nervosa . In this case, the true cause that causes it is not entirely clear but, according to the studies that have been carried out, it is understood that the main factor that collaborates with its development is culture (the social stereotype of beauty ). In any case, it is considered that some people are born with a genetic predisposition to suffer from this disorder, regardless of the pressure they receive.
anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders. The sick person seeks to lose weight and voluntarily submits to starvation . This disorder is detected by a doctor after analyzing the relationship established between the individual's behavior regarding food and their own weight. When anorexia nervosa causes very pronounced weight loss, the patient experiences all kinds of health problems and may even die.
Although we said that anorexia refers to the loss of appetite, in reality this etymological meaning is not exact in the case of anorexia nervosa . Patients may feel hungry and want to eat frequently, although they repress this intention and refuse to eat since they do not want to gain weight. On the other hand, those affected always think that they are fat , even when the reality is very different.
Anorexia nervosa mainly affects middle and upper class women and can be mild (it is transient) or severe (it is long-lasting). It usually starts at 12 years of age (early adolescence) and is more common in gymnasts, dancers and models.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder in which starvation is voluntary.
Subtypes of this disorder
There are two subtypes of anorexia:
- Restrictive : in which weight is reduced through diets and extreme physical exercise .
- Compulsive or bulimic : in which the individual compulsively eats quantities of food and resorts to purging to eliminate it from his or her body, motivated by feelings of guilt.
Symptoms of anorexia
Some of the symptoms that anorexia sufferers present are sudden weight loss , a fear of gaining weight (caused by a distorted perception of one's own body, which makes one look overweight and which leads one to kill oneself by fasting and eating less and less), absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles, in the case of women, and constipation, abdominal pain and vomiting, in patients of both sexes.
They also have an excessive concern about the composition of food , in terms of calories, and an obsession with image , weight, sports and studies, they create a hyperactive routine and avoid talking about food as much as possible. It should also be added that these people present a change in behavior , they become extremely irritable and in some cases they also suffer from cognitive disorders related to diet and physical condition.
The organic symptoms that allow specialists to diagnose this disease are: reduction in heart rate , arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure , amenorrhea, decreased bone mass, anemia, dehydration and the appearance of fine, long hair (woolly) on the face. the forearms, thighs, back, cheeks and neck, among others. To make the diagnosis , the presence of a therapist who can determine that the person really has an eating disorder is also required.
People who suffer from anorexia or bulimia present immature behavior, are extremely dependent on the family environment (in some cases they do not assume it) and are very afraid of sexual maturation and assuming responsibilities. However, it is necessary to keep in mind that both diseases differ from each other.
Disease development
The process experienced by people with anorexia is usually: first abandon carbohydrates in the diet, later fats and proteins, until reaching liquids (there have been cases of extreme dehydration ); These measures are usually accompanied by taking diuretics, laxatives and medications that help purge the body, excessive physical exercise and induced vomiting . In the most severe cases of anorexia, weight loss can reach 50% of body mass . It is a disease with a psychological origin and that can be detected in a sudden change in behavior, stigmatization of the body and complexes that are reflected in emotional behavior.
With respect to studies that reveal that in some patients there is a physical cause , we can briefly explain that it is due to a genetic predisposition. In most cases of people who suffer from anorexia nervosa, one or more family members suffer from some type of obsessive disorder (anxiety, phobias, alcoholism, etc.). This is because they present an imbalance of histamine , an organic chemical compound in the body, which also functions as a neurotransmitter of nerve impulses between the brain and the nervous system and is located in the hippocampus. It is essential for the normal functioning of memory and the integrity of emotions and thoughts ; The lack or excess of it can significantly affect the physical stability and mental health of the individual.
People who produce excess histamine have characteristics such as little hair, are naturally thin, long fingers and toes, large ears, and large central incisor teeth. They also produce a lot of saliva and are physically attractive, they often suffer from muscle cramps and allergies, among other problems; They are shy, sensitive and often show a tendency to depression, abnormal fears, acting compulsively and suicidal thoughts .
Anorexia treatment
The treatment to end anorexia is focused on correcting malnutrition and the psychological conflicts that led the patient to develop this disease. The fundamental thing is to get the patient to regain their normal weight, but once this is achieved it does not mean that the disease has been defeated, it is necessary for the patient to receive psychiatric treatment to understand and definitively overcome anorexia.
In cases where the patient presents severe malnutrition , it is necessary that he be admitted for greater control of his real recovery; The same is recommended if relationships with the family are not conducive to recovery and when psychological disorders become more pronounced.
Once the patient has regained the recommended weight, psychological treatment begins, through which the patient seeks to restructure their ideas and achieve a realistic perception of their body, improve their self-esteem and efficiently develop skills. social and communicative with their environment.
Family members and people close to the patient must also participate in the treatment, because they are essential for the patient's recovery . It should be noted that in many cases the family is the triggering factor. It is important that the patient learns to manage his anxiety and that the family tries to ensure that food does not become a topic of discussion (the worst thing for an anorexic is to be forced to eat), professional help must be sought and, above all, have a lot of patience.
Among the therapies used to treat anorexia are: cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy , group therapy, support groups exclusively for anorexics, and medication treatments (antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers).