What is Anorexia? Symptoms, Causes and Treatment of Anorexia

Anorexia is an eating disorder that is often characterized by a peculiarly lower body that includes a distorted weight perception and an intense fear of gaining weight.

And to prevent this weight gain and continue the losing weight, people with the illness restrict the amount of food intake.

Symptoms of Anorexia

The physical symptoms of the disease are associated with starvation. It includes behavioral and emotional problems, including an unrealistic body weight perception and an extreme fear of becoming fat.

The physical symptoms of the disease include:

• Abnormal blood count
• Thin appearance
• Extreme weight loss
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Hair thinning, breakage, or fallout
• Menstruation absence
• Bluish discoloration of fingers
• Soft hair covering the body
• Yellowish and dry skin
• Irregular heartbeat
• Cold intolerance
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Lower blood pressure
• Swelling in legs or arms
• Eroded teeth
• Dehydration

Behavioral and emotional symptoms of the disease include:

• Exercising excessively
• Severely restricting food intake
• Preoccupation with food
• Frequently skipping meals
• Wanting only a few safe foods
• Not wanting to eat in public
• Denial of hunger
• Making excuses not to eat
• Adopting rigid meals
• Fear of gaining weight
• Complaining about being fat
• Lack of emotion leads to a flat mood
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Social withdrawal

When to visit a medical doctor?

People with the medical condition do not require any treatment initially, but if the people experience the above-mentioned symptoms, they are likely to suffer from an eating disorder.
In such cases, seek medical help immediately.

Causes of Anorexia

The causes of the diseases are still unknown; however, it is probably a combination of psychological, environmental, and biological factors.

Risk factors involved!

The health condition is more common in females. However, males have also increasingly developed eating disorders. The common risk factors of getting affected with the disease include:

• Genetics
• Starvation and dieting
• Sudden transitions

Complications involved!

Several complications are involved with the disease. The complications associated with the condition include:

• Heart issues
• Anemia
• Bone loss
• Muscle loss
• Absence of period in females
• Decreased testosterone in males
• Kidney issues
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Gastrointestinal issues
• Personality disorder
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Diagnosis of Anorexia

If the doctor suspects a person has the disease, several tests and physical examinations may clarify the diagnosis and rule out the possibility of other diseases.
However, these examinations may include:

• Lab tests
• Physical examinations
• Psychological evaluation
• Other studies

Treatment of Anorexia

Treatment of the disease generally includes a team of doctors working collaboratively to help people with eating disorders.

However, the doctors may help provide medical care and restore a healthy weight.

Home remedies and lifestyle changes

Several lifestyle changes and home remedies may also help. Along with the doctor’s plan, try to focus on the following

• Talk to your doctor about the mineral and vitamin supplements
• Do not isolate yourself
• Resist the urge to weigh yourself

Bottom Line!

There is no single test diagnosis or medication that may help deal with the medical condition. However, seek medical help immediately to cope with the health condition appropriately.