Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is an eating disorder. People with it obsesses about their weight. Those affected have an extreme fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though they are severely underweight for their height. About 1% of women in the U.S. have this condition. It's most often seen in women in their late teens and twenties. A much smaller percentage of men also have this disorder.

Symptoms include extreme, low-calorie diets, fasting, misusing medicines (like laxatives), and overexercising to lose weight. Some people eat enough calories, but induce vomiting or diarrhea. When taken to an extreme, these behaviors change the body’s chemistry. This can cause permanent damage to the brain, heart, kidneys, bones, and teeth. Anorexia can even be life-threatening.

Other symptoms include:

• Severe weight loss

• Confusion

• Vomiting and diarrhea

• Indigestion, acid reflux heartburn, belly pain

• Blood in vomit or stool

• Fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat

• Trouble breathing

• Lack of energy

• Low blood pressure, fainting

• Seizures

• Skin color changes, dry skin

• Hair loss

• Periods may stop or become irregular

Depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can happen with anorexia. Suicide due to depression is a major cause of death in people with this illness.

Many factors can lead to anorexia. Certain personality traits such as low self-esteem and perfectionism are common. By focusing on weight loss, the person can ignore other causes of stress that are too painful or seem impossible to solve. Anorexia runs in families. There is a 10 times increased risk for a girl to get this illness if a sister has anorexia. Changes in brain chemistry may also be a factor. Another cause may include influence from family and peers.

Treatment involves individual, group, and family therapy. Any depression or OCD may need to be treated with medicines. Hospitalization is sometimes needed to treat dangerously low weights. A nutritionist can help improve diets and eating habits.