What is Anorexia? Symptoms of Anorexia

Anorexia is a serious eating disorder in which people avoid eating due to a severe fear of gaining weight, consume only certain foods in small amounts, and constantly feel the need to weigh themselves. Anorexia, which initially manifests itself with symptoms such as fear of gaining weight and extreme weakness, can cause serious complications such as weakening of muscles and bones, anemia and even organ failure due to malnutrition if not treated early. Those who are frequently asked about anorexia, such as what anorexia means and what are its symptoms , are discussed in detail later in the article.

What is Anorexia?

Anorexia, also referred to as anorexia nervosa in the medical literature, is a serious eating disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts about a person’s weight and physical appearance. This eating disorder, which is a psychological disorder, manifests itself with behaviors such as excessive restriction of eating and intense exercise to prevent weight gain. Various studies show that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are the 3rd most common chronic diseases after obesity and asthma. Another study suggests that 4% of women and 0.3% of men have been diagnosed with anorexia at some point in their lives. Anorexia leads the person to think that they are overweight, even though they are often at a lower weight than their ideal weight due to a deteriorated perception of their own body. The misperception of their body can cause people with this disease to over-control their desire to eat, completely limit their calorie intake over time, or develop dangerous habits such as constantly trying to burn calories through intense exercise. This can cause serious health problems by putting the person in an unhealthy and unnecessary weight loss cycle.

What Are the Symptoms of Anorexia?

The vast majority of people resort to various methods to be at the ideal weight. It’s normal to be concerned about weight gain most of the time. However, in some people, the fear of gaining weight can become obsessive. Over time, this condition can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia. Within the symptoms of anorexia, it is common for calorie intake to be extremely restricted due to fear of gaining weight. Anorexia can manifest itself with different symptoms. Some patients restrict their calorie intake excessively due to fear of gaining weight, while others may resort to intense and vigorous exercises to burn calories. Some of the patients are similar in symptoms to bulimia; They may have a tendency to vomit due to the fear of eating excessively and gaining weight after eating. Anorexia nervosa can also manifest itself with some physiological, psychological and social symptoms. Physical symptoms of the disease include symptoms such as arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), low blood pressure, dehydration, that is, fluid loss. Emotional and behavioral symptoms include fear of being overweight, constantly weighing and examining one’s body, and being extremely nervous. The main mental and emotional symptoms of anorexia are as follows:

• Fear of gaining weight,
• Deterioration of body image,
• Don’t think excessively about the calories of food,
• Fear of certain foods that are considered to be high-calorie,
• Constant self-criticism,
• Not understanding or denying the seriousness of being underweight, insufficient calorie intake.

In addition to mental and emotional symptoms, some behavioral symptoms can also be seen in anorexia patients. These are as follows:

• Change in eating habits, such as putting food in a certain order at meals or rearranging the dishes on the plate,
• Sudden change in food preferences,
• Although he has lost weight, he constantly tells his environment that he is overweight,
• Deliberately vomiting,
• Using drugs such as laxatives or diuretics,
• Going to the toilet immediately after eating,
• Exercising excessively,
• Trying to hide weight loss with loose clothes because they are afraid that those around them will make negative comments about weight loss,
• Withdrawing from social situations.

Sudden weight loss in anorexia patients within a few weeks or months is the main physical symptom of the disease. However, other physical symptoms may also occur in anorexia patients due to insufficient calorie intake. They are as follows:

• Dizziness
• Faint
• Feeling tired and sluggish,
• Irregularity in heart rhythm,
• Hypotension, that is, low blood pressure,
• Constant cold,
• Inability to menstruate or irregular menstruation,
• Abdominal pain and/or bloating,
• Weakness in the muscles,
• Weakening of hair and nails,
• Skin dryness.

In addition to the physical symptoms listed, anorexia patients cannot get enough of the nutrients the body needs due to malnutrition. This can cause patients’ immune systems to weaken and cause them to get sick more often.

What Causes Anorexia?

Anorexia; It is a complex eating disorder caused by many biological, psychological and environmental factors. Research shows that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have been increasing among young people, especially in the last 50 years, and that the perception of thinness imposed by both traditional media and social media has an effect on this issue. Thin and ideal body images, which are frequently encountered on television, the internet and magazines, cause young people to be dissatisfied with their own appearance, which triggers the desire to lose weight. The influence of the media on the development of eating disorders is an undeniable fact. However, anorexia is difficult to explain by a single cause. Accordingly, the main causes of anorexia are as follows:

• Changes in brain chemistry: Disorders in brain chemistry, especially dysfunction of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, can cause anorexia.
• Genetic predisposition: Although it is not known exactly which genes play a role in the development of anorexia, some studies show that people with a family member of an eating disorder have a higher risk of anorexia.
• Psychological factors: Psychological problems such as perfectionism, low self-esteem, and the need to control everything can lay the groundwork for anorexia. For example, people with psychological problems such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may find it easier than other people to stick to strict diets and not eat, even if they are hungry.
• Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as traditional media, the fashion industry, and social media can cause people’s perception of their own bodies to deteriorate. Associating thinness with beauty and success in society can lead to unhealthy eating habits, especially among young people. In addition, peer pressure, such as making fun of weight, can be counted among the first causes of anorexia, especially in children and young people.

In addition, people who are constantly dieting and gain weight when they stop dieting, who experience changes in their life such as new work, school and home, and who lose a loved one may also have a higher risk of eating disorders.

How Does Anorexia Pass?

In order for anorexia to pass, it is important for the person to first accept that they have an eating disorder. For this reason, the primary goal of specialists in the treatment of anorexia is to make the person accept that they have a serious eating disorder. With anorexia treatment, experts aim to return the patient to his ideal weight, while at the same time helping him gain healthy eating habits. Therefore, anorexia treatment; It is carried out with a multidisciplinary approach with the participation of doctors such as dietitians, psychologists and internal medicine specialists who are experts in their fields.

How Is Anorexia Treated?

Treatment for anorexia may vary depending on the general health status of the patient. If patients have serious health problems such as arrhythmia and dehydration, the patient may need to be treated in a hospital with competent healthcare professionals. The main methods used by specialists during the treatment of anorexia are as follows:

• Psychotherapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used psychotherapy methods in the treatment of anorexia. Experts help the person to re-evaluate and change their own body image and eating behaviors with the cognitive therapy method. In addition to cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy techniques such as acceptance and commitment therapy, which focuses on changing the person’s actions rather than changing their thoughts, cognitive improvement therapy, which allows the person to focus on more than one thing at a time, and dialectical behavior therapy, which aims to increase awareness and teach how to cope with emotions, can also help treat anorexia.
• Medication: Eating disorders can cause serious health problems that can threaten a person’s life. In this case, specialists may prescribe some nutritional supplements. In addition, experts may resort to medications to manage psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety that accompany anorexia.
• Nutritional counseling: The main treatment for anorexia is a healthy diet. Therefore, nutritionists play an important role in the treatment of anorexia. Dietitians prepare a personalized nutrition plan and follow the process closely in order to ensure that the patient gains a healthy weight.

Family and environmental support also plays an important role during anorexia treatment. For this reason, experts can include family members in the therapy process to help patients gain healthy eating habits when necessary.

Anorexia Frequently Asked Questions