Anorexia Nervosa

Society has long been riddled with sclerotic traditions that give rise to unjust prejudices and discrimination. So many people have fallen victim to society’s unfair judgments, often suffering needlessly in their attempt to fit society’s notion of desirability or, at the very least, normalcy. History is marked by tragedies caused by society’s narrow-minded ideologies, and while the situation has improved greatly over the years, some such problems still remain. Society’s notion of beauty is one primary example.

“Thin is in”, the media would say. They are concerned with what sells products; they are largely unconcerned with the negative influence that their unending and consistent message has on the youth’s mindset. Meanwhile, in the schools where we send our children, a modern-day version of the prosecution of those who do not fit society’s notion of desirable is taking place. People are ridiculing other people just because they aren’t ‘thin enough’; some are being called ‘ugly’ just because they aren’t ‘thin enough’.

Then of course, even if society is clear about its standards of beauty, it is unclear about what it deems to be sufficient thinness. What exactly does being ‘thin enough’ entail? Does it refer to supermodel-thin? The thinner, the better -- is that it? Must people break their backs and compromise their health just to be considered beautiful?

Trying to cope with society’s standards can be a rather harrowing business. Society often has standards that border on the impossible and attempting to pass these standards often have consequences much too serious for the endeavor to be worth doing. Nevertheless, some people, particularly those with Anorexia Nervosa, still try their best to do so – even at the cost of their happiness, their health and, sometimes, even their lives.

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder which is characterized by a low body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight and becoming fat. People who have anorexia nervosa have a very disturbed body image. They are never satisfied with how they look; in their minds, they’re never ‘thin enough’ even if they’re actually already malnourished due to excessive dieting, excessive exercise, purging, and vomiting.

“Anorexia” is a word that’s commonly misused and taken to mean the same thing as ‘anorexia nervosa’. This should not be the case. Anorexia simply refers to ‘lack of appetite’ and it is, in fact, a symptom for a different disease which may or may not be psychiatric. Anorexia Nervosa, on the other hand, refers to the psychiatric eating disorder itself. ‘Anorexic’ and ‘Anorectic’ are also commonly interchanged. Anorexic is a term used to refer to people who have Anorexia Nervosa, while Anorectic refers to any medication that induces a decrease in appetite.

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is most commonly seen in adolescent women. However, it is not exclusive to females; 10% of those who suffer from it are actually male.

What Causes Anorexia Nervosa?

Studies show that Anorexia Nervosa may be linked to genetics; that is, it may run in families. Some link it to a disorder in the neurotransmitter system of the body, possibly due to a disturbance in the function or usage of serotonin. Of course, these biological factors aren’t the only ones at work. Most psychiatric disorders exist due to a number of different causes. They are usually caused by a combination of many different factors. Psychologically, anorexia nervosa’s development may be induced by faulty reasoning and lack of coping skills.

It is commonly thought that people who have Anorexia Nervosa have faulty perception skills – that is, they look at a mirror and see themselves to be less attractive than they really are. Recent studies show, however, that people with Anorexia Nervosa actually lack a sort of ‘overconfidence bias,’ that makes people who have no Anorexia Nervosa think of themselves as more attractive than they actually are. So, in essence, people who have Anorexia Nervosa are actually more accurate at judging themselves. As a result, they are also more critical of their own looks.

Some behavioral or personality traits also predispose a person to Anorexia Nervosa. For example, if the person is obsessive and very driven, she has a greater risk of developing this disorder. If the person is good at resisting temptation and is a perfectionist who has a strong need for control, she will be more prone to Anorexia Nervosa than other people. This condition is also common among those who are achievers in academics or in their work.

Some studies also suggest that physical or sexual abuse during the childhood years puts a person at a high risk for developing Anorexia Nervosa. About 50% of those who were diagnosed with this eating disorder admit to having experienced such abuse.

What are the Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa causes a wide spectrum of symptoms in several aspects of a human being’s life. Physiologically, anorexia nervosa presents with extreme weight loss, with a body mass index of less than 18.5. The lack of nutrients really takes its toll on the body, so the person may suffer from stunted growth, endocrine disorders, amenorrhea, slow heart rate, hypotension, hypothermia, anemia, and electrolyte imbalances. The hair becomes thin and dry but lanugo hair sprouts all over the body. There is a reduction in white blood cells and therefore a weakening of the body’s immune system. The eyes become sunken and the complexion becomes pasty. The bones and joints are damaged and may creak when moved; the teeth also start decaying.

Psychologically, the person has a distorted body image and has very poor insight. She will judge herself mostly through her body weight and ignore all her other strong points. She is preoccupied by matters concerning food and weight. Several of those with Anorexia Nervosa also suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. These people believe that if they can control their food intake or their body weight, they have more control of their lives. They usually deny that they have any problem with their weight or their health. An anorexic usually has very low self-esteem and is constantly moody.

They exercise obsessively, but are very secretive about it. They starve themselves willingly and are thus prone to fainting. They abuse substances like diuretics and laxatives just to maintain their weight and are usually given to suicidal attempts. They are very sensitive when their eating habits are addressed.

Socially, people who have Anorexia Nervosa withdraw from their relationships. Relationships are frayed even more whenever friends and family members try to broach the topic of their eating disorder, their weight or getting medical help.