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What are the signs and symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?

pam_111 (Female, 21)

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Abigail A. Fernandez PTRP

Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that is often marked by an unnatural fear of weight gain, self-starvation, a distorted body image, compulsive exercising, and amenorrhea, or absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles.

There are two sub-types of anorexia nervosa the restricting and binge-purge.

The Restricting anorexia nervosa is characterized by a very strict diet and exercise schedule. Binge-purge is marked by periods of compulsive eating that is combined with or without self-induced vomiting and the use of laxatives or enemas.

Although many diagnosed of those who was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and tends to recover however the disorder can lead to death.

According to research studies, there where about 90% of those with anorexia nervosa are young women ages 14-18.

But men and women through their 40s are also at high risk. Anorexia nervosa was once considered a disorder of those that is under the upper and middle classes.

But, there were more recent studies show that cases of anorexia are becoming more common among those of young women of all races and social classes in the United States.

Adolescents who aspire to be professional athletes or performers and models appear to be at higher risk for developing anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa may be found in people who are suffering with depression, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The precise cause of anorexia is unknown but yet it is more likely due to the result of a combination of psychological factors, social influences and occupational goals.

The changes caused by puberty stage appear to have a very strong influence. Often girls may have difficulty accepting the changes in their bodies in adolescence period, especially when it comes to fat accumulation.

Some psychological contributors may include reactions to a desire to appear weak, sexual disorder and fragile to the opposite sex, family dysfunction, and an overemphasis on control and independence.

Many of the risk factors for women are almost the same for men, a group in which the number of cases is rising especially among those of the homosexual groups.

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Joan M. Victoriano OD/RN

Anorexia nervosa is one form of eating disorder. Those people who have anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight. They strictly limit the amount of food they eat and can become dangerously thin.

Anorexia nervosa affects not only the body but the mind as well. This may start as dieting, but it gets out of control. They think about food, dieting, and weight all the time. They have distorted body image. People would say they are too thin, but when they look at the mirror they see themselves as a fat person.

People who have anorexia nervosa weigh much less than is healthy or normal; they refuse to stay at a normal weight; they are afraid of gaining weight; they think they are overweight even when they are very thin; they become so focused on controlling their weight by strictly limiting their food intake, they exercise a lot, they vomit or use laxatives to avoid weight gain. When starvation sets in, they start to develop serious effects throughout the body. They may feel weak, tired, or faint; feel cold at all time; have a swollen feet and hands; they stop having menstrual periods; have low blood pressure and a slow heartbeat; have thinning hair, dry skin, and brittle nails; grow a layer of baby fine hair all over the body; and have purplish skin color on their arms and legs from poor blood flow.

Roel S. Cloma RN

There are different sign and symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa. It can be physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms.

The most visible physical symptom of anorexia nervosa is weight loss, which is often clear to the casual observer. But the body of a person with anorexia changes in many ways:

1.Weight loss (achieved via restricting food or purging it) - A person with anorexia will lose weight because, by definition, she refuses to maintain or achieve a body weight of 85% of the expected weight for her age and height.
2.Amenorrhea (interruption of the menstrual cycle) - this is present if there is an absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles, or if the person needs to take estrogen for her normal cycle to occur.
3.Bone loss (osteoporosis or osteopenia)
4.Extra sensitivity to cold
5.Bloated stomach after eating (since the stomach loses its ability to deal with a normal quantity of food at one sitting)
6.Lanugo--a fine hair that grows on the skin in response to the body's need for warmth
7.Yellowed skin (often from getting too much vitamin A as a result of eating only certain foods, like carrots)
8.Thinning hair

The mental and behavioral symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa include:

1.Distortion of body image or excessive importance placed on body composition or shape
2.Denial of seriousness of low weight
3.Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even if the person is considered underweight
4.Confused thinking (since the brain needs fuel to function properly)
5.Ritualistic eating (including cutting food into a planned number of bites)
6.Spitting out food before swallowing
7.Much more attention paid to nutrition labels
8.Major increase in exercise output, even when exhausted
9.Hatred for foods that used to be favorites
10.Refusal to eat with others
11.Binge eating (for the binge eating/purging subtype of anorexia)
12.Increased or unnecessary use of laxatives, or vomiting after eating (for the binge eating/purging subtype of anorexia

Maria Mercedes V. Orolfo BS Psych

Eating and food behavior signs and symptoms:

Dieting despite being thin – Follows a severely restricted diet. Eats only definite low-calorie foods. Also, bans bad foods such as carbohydrates and fats.

Obsession with calories, fat grams, and nutrition – You can read food labels, measures and weighs portions, keeps a food diary, reads diet books.

Pretending to eat or lying about eating – Hiding, plays with, or throws away food to avoid eating. Then, makes excuses to get out of meals.

Preoccupation with food – Eats very little, but continually thinks about food. May perhaps cook for others, collect recipes, read food magazines, or make meal plans.

Strange or secretive food rituals – Frequently, refuses to eat around others or in public places. May perhaps eat in rigid, ritualistic ways (e.g. cutting food, chewing food and spitting it out, using a specific plate).

Appearance and body image signs and symptoms:

Dramatic weight loss – Rapid, drastic weight loss with no medical cause.

Feeling fat, despite being underweight – May complain about being overweight in
general or just “too fat” in certain places such as the stomach, hips, or thighs.

Fixation on body image – Obsessed with weight, body shape, or clothing size.

Recurrent weigh-ins and concern over tiny fluctuations in weight.

Harshly critical of appearance – Spends a lot of time in front of the mirror checking for flaws. There’s constantly something to criticize. They’re never thin enough.

Denies being too thin – Refuses to believe that his or her low body weight is a problem, but may try to conceal it (drinking a lot of water before being
weighed, wearing baggy or over sized clothes).

Jonathan C. Monis RN

There are 2 types of anorexia nervosa:
• Binge-eating/purging type. The most common form of anorexia nervosa in which patients regularly engage in binge eating and/or purging behaviors to control their weight. Sometimes, individuals with this type of anorexia nervosa do not binge eat, but regularly purge (vomit, use laxatives) after consuming even small amounts of food.
• Restricting type. In this kind of anorexia nervosa, patients do not engage in purging methods to accomplish weight loss. Rather, individuals with restricting anorexia nervosa accomplish weight loss mainly by dieting, fasting and/or excessive exercise (anorexia athletica).
It is significant to note that anorexia nervosa differs from another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa. Although individuals with bulimia nervosa also may engage in purging behaviors, they typically maintain a normal body weight or are overweight. To be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, a person must weigh more than 15% below the normal range for their age and body size and exhibit a distorted body image.

5min Life Videopedia

Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum

Premenstrual Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Premenstrual syndrome, which causes people (and those around them) to feel miserable before and around their period, seems to be associated with a relative deficiency of several hormones, including progesterone and PGE1. It is worth allowing the treatments 3 months to work, as they can be very helpful but may take a little time to kick in.

TREATMENT

Recommended Supplements

Vitamin B6 and magnesium

Take vitamin B6 75-250 mg plus magnesium 200-400 mg each day. These can be found in a good multi-nutrient powder. For the first few months add magnesium 200 mg and vitamin B6 100 mg at bedtime.

Evening primrose oil

Take evening primrose oil 3,000 mg a day. After 3 months you can take it just the week before you expect your period. Use only brands that say “Efamol” (a distributor used by several brands) or Barleans on the label, as quality control is very important for this nutrient. If it is too expensive, you can substitute borage oil 3,000 mg (not as researched, but may have the same components as primrose oil) and any respected company’s brand is OK. These oils raise the PGE 1 hormone and decrease moodiness.

Other Therapies & Advice

Natural progesterone cream

Ask your holistic physician to prescribe a dose of 10-50 mg of natural progesterone cream, which is applied to your skin twice daily during the ten days before you expect your period.

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