What is the Dangerous Eating Disorder Known as Anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common eating disorders. It is a serious condition that is characterized by severely limiting the amount of food eaten, obsessive exercising and abusing diet pills. Anorexia effects both the body and mind and therefore is very serious. Also, most people think that only teenage girls can suffer from the disorder, but it is common among all ages and both genders.

Anorexia can be caused by a number of different things. Family history is one of the causes. If a person in your family has suffered from the disorder, it is more likely that you will suffer from it as well. Peer pressure and low self-esteem are two of the most common causes of anorexia. People that suffer from the disorder feel very poorly about themselves and fell that their self-image is never good enough. Other causes include anxiety, lack of confidence and depression.

There are many different symptoms of anorexia. Some are physical and some are psychological. The first symptom that you may notice is a sudden weight loss. This is caused by the lack of food intake. Other physical symptoms include hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin, poor circulation, low blood pressure and decreased body temperature. Decreased heart rate is also another physical symptom. Depression is one of the most common psychological symptoms of anorexia. It is also a common cause. Other psychological symptoms include anxiety, low self-esteem and change in behavior.

There are different treatment options for anorexia depending on the severity. Counseling is always a good idea. One-on-one, group and family counseling can all be beneficial. Along with the psychological treatment, you would need medical attention as well. Meeting with a nutritionist is important for those that suffer from anorexia. The nutritionist will teach what a healthy diet consists of and will help those that suffer achieve this. Since most people that have anorexia are completely starving themselves, it is important to slowly up the food intake. If it happens too fast, other health conditions can arise.

Anorexia is a very serious condition that occurs more than your think. It effects the mind and body and can lead to serious health conditions. Knowing the symptoms and getting the treatment needed is important for living a long and healthy life.