Anorexia Nervosa: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

Anorexia Nervosa: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatments

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

At its most basic, anorexia nervosa is mental disorder characterized by an obsessive desire to lose weight. In fact, individuals suffering from anorexia often greatly fear gaining weight, even if they are already weigh less than their physician would consider healthy or safe.

As such, anorexia sufferers hold distorted body images about themselves (e.g. they feel fat when they’re actually very thin), which is what pushes them continue losing weight. 

In order to force their bodies to do this, individuals suffering from anorexia can employ a variety of methods, including excessive calorie restriction or exercise, vomiting (also known as purging), as well as the use of laxatives or diuretics. In most cases, individuals with anorexia can’t control this behavior, even when It becomes life-threatening.

What Are Some Signs or Symptoms of Anorexia?

Unlike many other mental conditions, the onset of anorexia can be insidious, as people often hide their affliction from others by wearing baggy or oversized clothing to conceal their weight loss. Because of this, even close family members and other relatives may not be aware that their loved ones are suffering from this devastating condition.

With this in mind, here are some red flags that someone you know might be suffering from anorexia:

• Excessive fear of weight gain, especially if there is no rational reason
• A preoccupation with dieting 
• Obsessive exercising
• Significant changes in weight
• Skipping meals 
• Anxiousness while eating 
• “Food rituals” such as dividing, weighing, and playing with food 

What Are Some Side Effects of Anorexia?

Because of their persistent weight loss, individuals with anorexia may feel weak or fatigued, or suffer from secondary conditions such as dry skin, hair loss, and a compromised immune system. Women with prolonged anorexia may develop a condition known as amenorrhea (the absence of a period), which is a serious sign of inadequate caloric intake.

Eventually, patients with anorexia won’t be able to tolerate even small amounts of food, which can be associated with the unpleasant sensation of fullness, along with bloating, nausea, constipation, and even severe abdominal pain. As a result, the downward spiral continues and patients begin avoiding food in order to avoid these unpleasant sensations altogether.

As a result of their progressive weight loss, individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa may experience serious electrolyte abnormalities, such as low potassium and magnesium, low blood sugar, high liver enzymes, and dehydration. And while these symptoms are a cause for concern alone, when taken together they can lead to serious cardiac, renal, and hepatic complications. In fact, the most frequent cause of death related to anorexia is cardiac arrhythmia.

How Do I Know if I’m at Risk for Anorexia Nervosa?

While both men and women can suffer from this devastating disease, anorexia affects women much more frequently by a ratio of about 10:1.

With this said, individuals most at risk for developing anorexia nervosa include: 

• Those with obsessive-compulsive personalities
• Socially withdrawn persons with a history of sexual or physical abuse
• Overachievers/perfectionists
• Those with mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, and/or bipolar disorder.

On top of this, there is some evidence that developing anorexia can be linked to hereditary, although there are typically one or more factors that cause anorexia to manifest or flare up for those already predisposed to the disease.

Can Anorexia Be Effectively Treated?

Effectively managing and treating anorexia typically consists of two main approaches, which can last up to 8 weeks:

Step 1: Addressing Weight Gain

The first step in treating anorexia is to address weight gain, which should be accomplished under the close supervision of a dietician in order to avoid too-quick weight gain and/or refeeding syndrome.

During this stage of treatment, lab tests should be run weekly; or more frequently, if it’s necessary for the patient’s electrolyte status to be monitored.

Step 2: Addressing Psychological Factors

While regaining much of the weight lost during a patient’s battle with anorexia is a positive first step, it’s often insufficient to treat their affliction as a whole. This is because—especially in advanced stages—patients may not be able to accept that they’re gaining weight, and once this occurs, they may become scared and immediately begin trying to reverse their progress.

In order to avoid this cycle of progression and backtracking, it may be necessary for anorexia patients to combine their weight gain treatment with other tools such as psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and family therapy, in addition to medications that address depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

Because of these concerns, effectively treating anorexia is a complex process that should involve the expertise of several different medical specialties. Ideally, anorexia patients should be hospitalized at an eating disorder facility, and should be under the close supervision of a dietician, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, and internist. 

Unfortunately, even after a patient has successfully completed their treatment, there is a strong likelihood for relapsing at some point later in life.

Who Can I Talk to About Anorexia?

If you have concerns about anorexia, be sure to talk to your health care provider here at Advanced Family Medicine. Because the sooner treatment is started, the more successful it will likely be.

When you’re ready, give us a call at (425) 453-6838. We’re here to help.