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A Quick Overview

Anorexia nervosa is a serious and complex eating disorder that can cause a person to be obsessed with weight loss and have a skewed perception of their body image. It can affect virtually anyone and can cause serious health issues including malnutrition.

People that suffer from this condition have an abnormal fear of gaining weight. They often attach their self-worth to their body weight. So, no matter how low their body weight may get, they are never satisfied. Hence, these people resort to all sorts of practices and measures to maintain a particular body image, shape, or size.

Anorexia is most often found in adolescent women, but it can also be found in men, children, and older adults as well. This condition is an unhealthy way to cope with uncomfortable and emotional issues in life and can be a way for an individual to feel in control. Due to the complex and tricky nature of this disease, diagnosis and treatment is of the utmost importance.

Major Causes

There is little evidence that supports an exact cause of this condition. However, certain factors may play a role in triggering it. These include:

• Biology: Biological factors like genetics and hormones can often play a vital role in causing this condition. While this disorder is often considered a result of social factors, studies have shown that genetics can influence whether or not a person will develop this condition.
• Environmental: A person’s environment can also play a vital role in determining whether someone develops this eating disorder. This can include unrealistic societal pressure to be a certain weight, shape, or size. This is often fed into people's minds through social stigmas and the media.
• Psychological: Another factor that can play a role in a person developing this disorder is psychology. A person suffering from other mental health conditions might such as anxiety or OCD might also develop this ailment.

Common Warning Signs

Identifying the early warning signs is extremely important in treating this condition. Before a person goes on to develop this disorder, they might exhibit certain warning signs that may help early detection. Here are some common warning signs to look out for:

• Tendency to fixate too much on counting calories and constantly worrying about gaining weight
• Focusing too much on dieting
• Refraining from consuming a particular food group. For example, foods containing carbs
• Curbing their appetite
• Sticking to a rigorous exercise routine
• Little interest in socializing and regular activities
• Constantly checking themselves in the mirror or obsession with self-image
• Lying about food consumption
• Layering themselves under clothes so that no one is able to make out their actual weight

What are the Risk Factors?

While this condition occurs more often in younger girls and women, anybody can suffer from it. Here’s are some of its major risk factors:

• Biological factors: Biological factors include things like hormones or genetics. People with a relative suffering from this disorder might be more at risk of developing it themselves.
  Another factor that can affect this condition is the shortage of neurotransmitters like dopamine that control a person’s eating habits. It also affects serotonin which is responsible for impulse control.
• Psychological factors: Psychological factors also impact this condition. Someone suffering from other mental health conditions such as anxiety might be more prone to developing this disorder. Often, an individual develops this disorder as a way to feel more in control of their life.
• Lifestyle factors: Lifestyle also plays a key role in a person’s likelihood of developing this disorder. People who have irregular eating behaviors are more likely to develop an eating disorder. In addition, people who work in industries where their image or appearance is pivotal to their roles, like modeling or the fashion industry, are more prone to developing this condition.
  It is also common among people who belong to professions like ballet dancing, track and field events, etc., where being lean gives them a competitive advantage.
• Societal factors - These include factors like societal conditioning, pop culture, and social media. In a society that is obsessed with leaner bodies, a person is often conditioned to think that their self-worth is based on their weight.
  This is also seen in magazines and media portraying thinner bodies as the only acceptable body standard. This makes people believe that their success and happiness depends upon their body weight, causing them to restrict their diets. Social media adds fuel to the fire by normalizing the trend that being beautiful equals a thinner body.

How to Recover From Your Symptoms

The journey to recovery can be long, but it’s possible! All you need is the right approach and treatment. The first step, of course, starts with the identification of the disease. The next involves figuring out ways to cope with unhealthy thoughts.

Here are a few ways that can help you recover from your symptoms:

• Therapy - Therapy plays a vital role in your healing journey. You can choose from either individual therapy or group therapy. Individual therapy might entail a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors that aren’t healthy. It helps in coping with your emotions and improving self-esteem.
  Group therapy can involve interacting with other people suffering from the same disorder. Group therapy can also extend to family therapy. It involves the inclusion of your family members in tracking your eating behavior and lifestyle, which can be extremely helpful in tracking your progress.
• Medications - While there aren’t proven medications meant to treat this disorder, anti-depressants are often used to treat anxiety and depression symptoms that come with this condition. This can help in your recovery process.
• Hospitalizations - The number of days or the need for hospitalization depends upon the severity of this disorder. People might need their vitals monitored, tube feeding, IVs, or additional lab work.

Find Help From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

Finding the right therapist is extremely important for overcoming this eating disorder. At DocVita, we have various therapists from many different fields that can help you throughout your healing journey. Finding the right therapist can be integral in overcoming your condition.

With Docvita, you have the option to choose from many different therapists to best suit your needs. Easily choose from various specialists with different qualities that might be able to help you address your issues in the best way possible.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

If you or someone you know is struggling from anorexia, it might be time to reach out to a trusted therapist for help. At DocVita, we have various specialists from different fields that can help you manage and cope with it better. Simply book an appointment online and get started today!