The Essence of an Eating Disorder with an emphasis to Anorexia Nervosa
Συγγραφέας Ελένη Ανδρέου Γράφτηκε στις ,
| An eating disorder is defined as “a complex compulsion to eat, or not eat, in a way which disturbs physical and mental health.” Many people with eating disorders have no idea that they are suffering from a serious condition, and instead feel that are just acting in accordance with what feels right at the time.
Eating Disorder Causes: An Eating disorder is the result of irregular and improper diet intake, stress filled lifestyle and the over ambition to reach size zero. Emotional bearing is also one of the reasons. It is a common disorder experienced by a sizable percentage of the population. Weight gain due to junk food habit because of less home cooking and the associated fear of being over weight are the root cause of eating disorder. Eating disorder which includes anorexia, bulimia and compulsive overeating are some of the serious forms of mental illness. Living a life with this illness imparts a feeling of insecurity, shame, anxiety. Mostly, the individual is left to struggle alone because of the complicated combination of physical and mental symptoms, but with proper medication, this illness can be cured. People with eating disorder feel that they are overweight and continue eating less and become malnourished. Eating disorders are characterized by an abnormal obsession with food and weight. Eating disorders are much more noticed in women than in men. Environmental factors have a large influence on developing eating disorders but more research is being performed on hormonal imbalances, brain lesions and their effects on eating disorders. Many types of eating disorder such as, anorexia nervosa, starvation diet, binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, night eating syndrome. Types of Eating Disorders: Compulsive overeating – Overeating or addiction of over eating is called compulsive overeating. People suffering from their abnormal eating, feels uncomfortable in society. Compulsive Overeater is at risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/or failure, arthritis and bone deterioration, and stroke. Binge Eating Disorder – Eating much more food during a binge episode than during a normal meal or snack. Frequent dieting without weight loss.Hoarding food.Hiding empty food containers.Feeling depressed, disgusted or upset over the amount eaten. Night Eating Syndrome – Night Eating Syndrome is a relatively new disorder. A person with night eating syndrome will often eat large quantities of food after their last meal of the day. Usually just before bed and during the middle of the night. They in turn will skip breakfast and not start eating until the middle of the day. Those with night eating syndrome will not just indulge in the occasional midnight snack, they will typically consume high calorie, low nutritious foods often through the night. Bulimia – Bulimia nervosa, known as bulimia, is an eating disorder and psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge eating followed by feelings of guilt, depression, and self-condemnation and intentional purging to compensate for the excessive eating, usually to prevent weight gain. Purging can take the form of vomiting, fasting, inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication, or excessive physical exercise. Anorexia nervosa is very serious and has an impact on both physical and mental health. Left untreated, anorexia nervosa can be fatal. People develop anorexia nervosa as a way of dealing with the conflicts, pressures, and stresses of their lives. Anorexia nervosa may be used as a way to express control when the rest of one’s life seems out of control.Anorexia nervosa is self-imposed starvation. Anorexia nervosa is a serious, life-threatening disorder which usually stems from underlying emotional causes. Although people with anorexia nervosa are obsessed with food, they continually deny their hunger. Women or men with anorexia nervosa often also limit or restrict other parts of their lives besides food, including relationships, social activities, or pleasure. Anorexia nervosa can cause severe medical problems and even lead to death. Anorexia nervosa is a disorder that describes an eating disorder characterized by low body weight and body image distortion, with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia control their body weight through voluntary starvation, purging, excessive exercise, or other weight control measures, such as the use of diet pills or diuretics. Anorexia primarily affects adolescent females (age of 16-26). Approximately 10% of people with the diagnosis are male. Anorexia Nervosa Warning Signs Common warning signs of anorexia nervosa:
What happens to your body with anorexia? With anorexia, your body doesn’t get the energy from foods that it needs, so it slows down. Look at the picture below to find out how anorexia affects your health. Anorexia nervosa as well as the other eating disorders can be treated and an early diagnosis is very important. A health care team composed of the physician, clinical dietitian, psychologist is necessary for the treatment of Anorexia nervosa.
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