THE anorexia nervosa it is an eating disorder that most often affects females. The person with this health problem has a marked weight loss, associated with extreme behaviors in relation to nutrition. In addition, it is also common to have an exaggerated fear of getting fat and a distorted view of the body.
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by extreme changes in the individual's eating habits, associated with behaviors aimed at weight loss. In anorexia nervosa, the individual eats poorly, usually doing extreme restrictive diets and getting big periods in fast. You can also make use of laxative drugs (which stimulate the elimination of feces) and appetite suppressants, as well as to tease vomiting and exercising in an exaggerated way.
It is noteworthy that people with anorexia nervosa refuse to keep their weight within the limits considered normal for age and height. The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) considers people with Body Mass Index
(BMI) less than or equal to 17.5 kg/m2 as suggestive of having anorexia. In these people, there is no loss of appetite, but rather a completely voluntary control over how much food should be eaten. This disorder primarily affects female adolescents and young adults.Read too:Limitations of BMI
Types of Anorexia Nervosa
Restrictive Type: the patient presents, mainly, exaggerated behaviors in relation to the control of feeding and the practice of exercises in order to obtain weight loss. With regard to food, the individual performs, for example, very restrictive diets, eats a few times a day and spends long periods without eating.
Periodic/purgative compulsion type: the individual presents behaviors not only related to the reduction of eating and practice constant exercise, but also abuses laxatives and appetite suppressants, in addition to induce vomiting.
Clinical picture of anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia nervosa usually have a distortion of your body image, feeling fat, even when they are thin. In addition, there is a exaggerated fear of getting fat.
Women with anorexia may still have the amenorrhea, that is, the missed period. In these patients, it is common that menstruation does not occur for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. In addition, the person may have edema in the lower limbs, constipation, low body temperature, and cyanosis (purple-blue coloration of the skin or mucous membranes).
Here are some of the clinical signs and symptoms that can be seen in a person with anorexia nervosa:
Signs and symptoms related to anorexia nervosa |
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Absence of menstruation (amenorrhea) low body temperature Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) Cyanosis of the nail bed (under the nails) Complications arising from excessive exercise Depression difficulty concentrating Headaches Edema (swelling) in the lower limbs hyperactivity Hypotension (low blood pressure) Osteoporosis in young people hair loss Weight loss with no known cause |
Read too: Depression
Complications of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa can trigger serious consequences, since the body starts to receive nutrients in an insufficient way to supply its needs. Examples of health problems that can be caused are: anemia, electrolyte imbalance, constipation, reduction in the level of some hormones and increase in others, edema, hypoglycemia, delay in pubertal development, changes in liver function, osteoporosis, hypokalemia (low amount of potassium), seizures, heart failure, arrhythmia, among others. It is noteworthy that anorexia, if left untreated, can even lead to death.
Read too:Recommendations for healthy eating
Treatment of anorexia nervosa
The treatment of anorexia nervosa is mainly aimed at re-establishing proper eating patterns and making the patient perceive himself as he really is. Usually patients with anorexia nervosa need hospitalization, since restoring nutrition correctly can be complicated in some cases, and the patient may be very debilitated. O use of medications to treat psychiatric conditions associated with the problem may be recommended.
It is important to make clear that the treatment of anorexia nervosa is complex and requires a team formed by several professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists and nutritionists. In addition, the guidance of family members is essential, so that they can better understand the process and support the patient.
Anorexia x bulimia
THE nervous bulimia, like anorexia nervosa, it is a eating disorder what the person seeks lose weight. In bulimia, there is a compulsion to ingest food and subsequent use of methods to prevent weight gain, such as the use of laxatives and induction of vomiting. It is also common to have a feeling of guilt in the individual for not being able to control his impulses.
By Ma. Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos