Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder that is characterized for having a notably low body weight. People with anorexia are always aware of and controlling their weight and shape to the point where it interferes with their lives. They want to prevent to gain weight, which leads them to have a limited amount of the food they eat.  People with anorexia fear weight gain, leading them to do extreme methods like vomiting after eating, misusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas to maintain their body shape.

Anorexia is a reflection of emotional problems, as people equalize thinness with self-worth. There is not an exact cause, but it’s a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Biological factors are when genes are involved; those that are inclined toward perfectionism, sensitivity, and perseverance, which are all associated with anorexia. Psychological are when the people with anorexia have the obsessive thought of having the “perfect” body through not eating, despite being hungry, plus having perfectionism, making them want their body to be the thinnest, as it is their definition of self-worth.The environmental refers to when the society equates success and worth with being thin, which makes especially little girls have the desire to be extremely slim. All social media is surrounded by extremely thin models and people admire them, making persons think they are the correct path, but every body is different.

People with anorexia tend to be starving most of the time, plus having a strong fear of gaining weight. It is difficult to notice the signs of anorexia, as some persons may not appear extremely thin.

Physical symptoms:

• Insomnia
• Thin appearance
• Extreme weight loss
• Dry and yellowish skin
• Fainting and dizziness
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Low blood pressure

Emotional and behavioral symptoms:

• Excessive exercise
• Restricting food
• Self-induced vomiting
• Preoccupation with food
• Frequently skipping meals
• Denial of hunger
• Not wanting to eat in public
• Frequent checking in the mirror for flaws
• Complaining about being fat
• Flat mood
• Fear of gaining weight
• Reduced interest in sex

Anorexia is very dangerous and causes many physical and mental problems, which can be severe and life-threatening. In a short term view, it can cause only weight loss, but this problem can lead to osteopenia, loss of normal menstruation, difficulties conceiving, infertility, and even death.

The treatment is named cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It can last up to 40 weeks, two sessions in a week. It is about a therapist who will create with you a personalized treatment plan. It will improve and help you to:

• Understand nutrition and the effects of starvation
• Make good decisions about your health and nutrition
• Cope with your feelings

This will be personalized to your situation. They will ask you to practice these techniques in your daily life, to manage difficult feelings, and you stick with your eating habits. Remember that every body is different, stop comparing yourself to other people, focus on your unique gifts, use your energy in your life rather in focusing in others people’s lives.