Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes the individual have an irrational urge to appear thin. The individual avoids consuming food that leads to malnourishment and low BMI. Anorexia Nervosa affects the functioning of vital organs along with mental health.
The individual diagnosed with the eating order requires medical attention as it becomes life-threatening. The prevailing beauty standards in Dubai and other countries are causing mental health problems. Females are at a higher risk of developing the condition due to unrealistic cultural expectations of beauty.
Understanding the Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa
The overt eating disorder symptoms are:
- Fear of Obesity: Individuals constantly suffer from fear of gaining weight. Thus, they keep a restrictive diet and engage in physical activities to lose weight.
- Binging and Purging: The individual selects unhealthy eating patterns binging and purging. The person suffers from poor oral health due to the flow back of stomach acid.
- Inactiveness: Lack of nutritional intake causes malnourishment. It affects overall functioning, and the person remains lethargic.
- Anemia: The skin appears pale and dull due to anemia.
- Physical Complications: The individual can notice swelling in the lower extremities due to a lack of nutrients in the body, which affects the functioning of vital organs. Also, a weakened immune system causes blue nails, intolerance to cold and constipation.
- Sleep Problems: Poor dietary intake and stress increase the risk of insomnia. Insomnia can lead to irritability and low productivity.
- Amenorrhea: Women suffering from anorexia nervosa are at a higher risk of amenorrhea.
Contributing Factors
The factors that can lead to eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, are:
- Social and Cultural Factors: Socio-cultural influence can affect the way one perceives their physical appearance. The unrealistic urge to appear thin and pretty impacts dietary intake and increases the risk of anorexia Nervosa.
- Changes in Neurochemicals: The changes in the levels of neurochemicals increase the risk of developing mental health problems.
- Perfectionism and Obsessions: The fear of the future and appearing perfect increases the risk of mental health problems. Obsessions and compulsions increase the risk of suffering from anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.
Preventative Measures
The preventative measures that can help reduce the chances of suffering from an eating disorder are:
- Caregivers should support their children. Having irrational expectations can affect the thought process of the child.
- The primary caregivers and family members should monitor the changes in their children. Teenage girls are prone to suffer from anorexia nervosa due to social influence. Early diagnosis slows down the progression of mental illness and allows the individual to function adequately by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Effective Treatment Option
The diagnosis allows the specialist to understand the eating disorder type and its severity. Therapies and medications help individuals enhance their health and reduce complications.
- Medications: The anxiety of gaining weight worsen the condition. Antidepressants help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Family Counseling: Family counseling is to help the members understand the condition and its cause. They learn to encourage the person to make healthy eating choices to restore weight.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT helps the individual understand the negative eating patterns causing physical problems. The awareness allows the individual to make rational choices to improve eating behavior and health.
