ANOREXIA NERVOSA

WHAT IS ANOREXIA NERVOSA? Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness that describes an eating disorder characterized by extremely low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight.psychiatricillnesseating disorderbody weightbody image The term anorexia is of Greek origin: OREXIS meaning a lack of desire to eat. Anorexia nervosa is frequently shortened to "anorexia" in the popular media. This is technically incorrect, as the term "anorexia" used separately refers to the medical symptom of reduced appetite (which therefore is distinguishable from anorexia nervosa in being non- psychiatric).anorexia

CAUSES Social influences Social influences Occupational goals Occupational goals Genetic or family history Genetic or family history Psychological factor Psychological factor

Categories of anorectics There are two categories of anorectics: There are two categories of anorectics: Anorexics Anorexic people starve themselves and eat very little. Example :Eating simply half a cracker for their meals. Bulimics Bulimic people overeat but they then force themselves to throw up what they have eaten. They can eat almost everything in their cabinets and then force themselves to throw up so they do not gain weight. Some bulimics eat very normally but after each time they eat, they will go to the toilets and throw up.

Behaviors and Symptoms of Anorexic's Self Starvation Self Starvation Restricting and dieting Restricting and dieting Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body image Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body image Refusal to eat Refusal to eat Fear of Food Fear of Food Excessive facial and body hair (growing hair in weird places ie: on the lower back, knuckles etc…) Excessive facial and body hair (growing hair in weird places ie: on the lower back, knuckles etc…) Compulsive exercise Compulsive exercise Abnormal weight loss Abnormal weight loss Gaunt-like features (example: cheeks sinking in due to weight loss) Gaunt-like features (example: cheeks sinking in due to weight loss) Sensitivity to the cold Sensitivity to the cold Absent or irregular menstruation Absent or irregular menstruation Loss of consciousness (fainting) Loss of consciousness (fainting) Hair loss Hair loss

Behaviors and Symptoms of Bulimic's Preoccupation with food Preoccupation with food Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body image Obsession with body weight, physical appearance, and body image Bingeing on large amounts of food- consuming sometimes 3000 calories or more in one sitting (usually in secret) Bingeing on large amounts of food- consuming sometimes 3000 calories or more in one sitting (usually in secret) Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals Frequent trips to the bathroom after meals Vomiting after bingeing Vomiting after bingeing Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills Abuse of laxatives, diuretics, diet pills Ingesting drugs to induce vomiting (ex: using Ipecac) Ingesting drugs to induce vomiting (ex: using Ipecac) Absent or irregular menstruation Absent or irregular menstruation Compulsive exercise Compulsive exercise Vomit smell on breath Vomit smell on breath Swollen salivary glands Swollen salivary glands Swollen Cheeks Swollen Cheeks Broken blood vessels in the eyes Broken blood vessels in the eyes

Treatments Anorexia The treatment of anorexia has three main phases: Restore weight loss Restore weight loss Treat psychological issues such as depression, self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts Treat psychological issues such as depression, self-esteem, and interpersonal conflicts Achieve long-term recovery and remission Achieve long-term recovery and remission The use of anti-depressants for treating anorexia should be considered only after weight gain has been established. Bulimia The main goal in the treatment of bulimia is to eliminate binging and purging Establish healthy and consistent eating habits, i.e. three meals a day at regular times Establish healthy and consistent eating habits, i.e. three meals a day at regular times Encourage healthy, not excessive, exercise Encourage healthy, not excessive, exercise Treat psychological issues such as mood or anxiety disorders Treat psychological issues such as mood or anxiety disorders