This paper provides a broad overview of anorexia nervosa, one of the most serious eating disorders affecting people worldwide. It traces the disorder's early identification in the 1870s by British physician William Withey Gull and French neuropsychiatrist Ernest Charles Lasègue, then examines risk factors, warning signs, and the populations most commonly affected. The paper outlines the multi-faceted treatment approach required — including medical care, nutritional counseling, psychotherapy, and support groups — and discusses the gradual, sustained process of recovery. The paper concludes by emphasizing that, with determination and the right support systems, recovery from anorexia is achievable.
Anorexia nervosa — commonly referred to simply as anorexia — is one of the two most prominent and serious eating disorders affecting people around the world, alongside bulimia. Although women are more commonly associated with the disorder, men can develop it as well. This paper covers what anorexia is, who first identified it, how people manage it, and how recovery is achieved. While battling and overcoming anorexia can be an enormous challenge, it is entirely possible with the right counseling and patient determination.
There is some debate about who first described and identified anorexia. Depending on the source, credit is given either to British physician William Withey Gull or to French neuropsychiatrist Ernest Charles Lasègue. Both appear to have arrived at the same conclusions about the disorder in 1873, although they seem to have done so independently of one another. Gull made a cryptic reference to the disorder as early as 1868, but there is no definitive proof as to who made the discovery first (Vandereycken, 1989). In any event, much more has come to be known about the disorder in the nearly century and a half since then.
At its core, anorexia is a mental disorder in which a person believes they are overweight and therefore refuses to eat, even when they are not overweight and are genuinely hungry. While there are varying stages and degrees of the disorder, those at risk are generally individuals who are fifteen percent or more below their ideal body weight. For example, someone whose normal body weight is 150 pounds would be in a danger zone if their weight dropped below approximately 128 pounds. Beyond gender, other risk factors include being a high achiever or perfectionist, working as a model or athlete, or any combination of these characteristics. Anorexia typically manifests during or near puberty, but people of all ages from the teenage years onward can develop the disorder (WebMD, 2016).
Warning signs that someone may be anorexic — or at risk of becoming so — include significant weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, turning away food without obvious reason, denying the existence of hunger, constant or excessive exercise, sensitivity to cold, absent or irregular menstrual periods, hair loss, tooth decay or loss, fatigue, social isolation, intentional or incidental vomiting, and the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
Treatment of anorexia requires a full and comprehensive medical and mental health care approach. This includes continuous medical monitoring, regular therapy visits, and nutritional counseling. Depending on the patient, medication may also be considered. This area can be complex: antidepressants are sometimes effective in treating anorexia, but no drug has been specifically approved for the disorder. In other words, antidepressants may be appropriate when depression is a contributing factor, but this will not apply to all patients — the role of depression depends on the underlying causes of the individual's mental distress (WebMD, 2016).
Overcoming anorexia is not an overnight process. It requires a long and methodical effort in which old and dangerous habits are eliminated and new habits relating to self-perception and eating are learned and reinforced. As long as treatment is sustained and follows the appropriate channels, it is generally successful — though it does take time.
Physicians involved in the treatment process should pay close attention to bone density, blood composition, and heart function. Psychologists and therapists play an instrumental role in guiding patients away from self-destructive patterns and toward a more positive mood and outlook. Support groups — gatherings of people who share the same or similar eating disorder struggles — can also pay enormous dividends, much as they do for people recovering from addiction or other serious conditions. These groups should be led by a skilled facilitator who is knowledgeable about the experiences of those present. People who have personally overcome eating disorders in the past are often among the most effective counselors, precisely because they have lived through what the group members are experiencing (WebMD, 2016).
Many practitioners and recovered patients offer guidance on getting through anorexia. Commonly agreed-upon elements of recovery include listening to one's body, acknowledging one's feelings, trusting and accepting oneself, and rediscovering enjoyment in life. The recommended steps toward an eating disorder-free life are: asking for help, finding qualified specialists, addressing all existing health problems, and establishing long-term treatment plans that allow for continuous and progressive improvement in both mental and physical health.
"Medical, pharmaceutical, and psychological treatment options"
"Long-term strategies and support group benefits"
WebMD. (2016). Understanding anorexia — Diagnosis and treatment. WebMD. Retrieved 23 April 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa/understanding-anorexia-treatment#1
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