With experience and care, we treat your anorexia and help you regain the real you. Call now at 888.771.5166 to learn more.
Anorexia nervosa, or simply called anorexia, is an eating disorder which is usually categorized by an extremely low body weight, a very real fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of one’s own body. It is a type of self-starvation that if not treated, can lead to death.
It often begins during the teenage years or early adulthood, but it can even begin as young as the preteen years.
Eating disorders affect up to 30 million men and women in the US. Both men and women can suffer from anorexia, but women are 10 times more likely to become anorexic. Nearly 1 in every 100 American women will experience anorexia at one time in their lives.
Anorexia nervosa is a psychological condition that involves an eating disorder. It causes the individual to lose more weight that what is healthy for their age and height. If you have anorexia, you purposefully restrict your food intake, generally due to a fear of being fat or becoming fat.
Anorexia is a very complex disease. It isn’t always easy to diagnose in a loved one, as those suffering can be quite secretive about their eating habits. Some of the physical signs and symptoms of anorexia are:
Sufferers of anorexia will often be in denial that they have a problem, and may be difficult to talk to about their eating habits.
If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself or in a loved one, it is important that you seek help. At The Center • A Place of HOPE, we have qualified professionals who can you help you with your anorexia and find a way forward.
Some of the psychological signs and symptoms are:
If the symptoms of anorexia go on for too long, they can be life threatening and have long-term health complications for the individual. Up to 20% of anorexics die from major organ failure due to the constant starvation.
Some of the physical long-term complications of anorexia are:
No single cause has been identified for Anorexia Nervosa. There is still more research that may need to be done to help identify causes. It has been found that anorexia is due to a number of factors such as biological, environmental and psychological.
Between 33-50% of people suffering with anorexia are also suffering from a mood disorder such as anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder.
An individual may develop anorexia nervosa as a way of having control in a difficult environment where they feel they have no control.
Genetic factors may be part of it, as between 50-80% of the risk of anorexia is thought to potentially be genetic.
Some of the potential risk factors are:
Treatment
Treatment should focus on the whole person, and will most likely include things like psychology, medication, family counseling and nutritional counseling.
It can be very difficult for someone with anorexia to accept that they have a problem. This is often the hardest part to take that first step of acceptance in the journey of recovery.
Treatment is often long-term as it takes time to change these thoughts and behaviors, and there may be relapses. However, with the right health professionals around you and good family or friend support, you can make a way forward and improve your health.
At The Center • A Place of HOPE there are caring and experienced health professionals that are able to help you or a loved one through this journey and help you to recover from this disease. They can help you to take steps forward and begin to change your life for the better.
Anorexia nervosa is a serious illness and you do need to reach out and seek help for yourself or for a loved one.
Call us now at 888.771.5166 to get help.
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