How to fight Common Eating Disorders?

Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological and severe life-threatening eating disorder described by the ingestion of an abnormally large amount of food in short time period, followed by an attempt to avoid gaining weight by purging what was consumed. These measures may include strictly restricting their food intake, reducing their calorie intake or by misusing diuretics, laxatives diet aids or enemas.

Here's how it can affect your body: Constant weight fluctuations, electrolyte imbalances, broken blood vessels within the eyes, enlarged glands in the neck and under the jawline, oral trauma, such as lacerations in the lining of the mouth or throat from repetitive vomiting, chronic dehydration, inflammation of the oesophagus, chronic gastric reflux after eating or peptic ulcers, infertility.

Physical Symptoms:

·         Weight loss very thin appearance

·         Insomnia

·         Fatigue

·         Dizziness

·         Bluish discoloration of the fingers

·         Thinning hair.

·         Missing a period

·         Constipation

·         Dry or yellowish skin

·         Intolerance of cold

·         Irregular heart rhythms

·         Low blood pressure

·         Dehydration

·         Swelling of arms or legs

·         Osteoporosis

Emotional or Behavioural Symptoms

·         Pre-occupation with food

·         Refusal to eat Denial of hunger

·         Fear of gaining weight.

·         Lying about how much food has been eaten.

·         Flat mood (lack of emotion)Social withdrawal

·         Irritability Reduced sex drive

·         Depression Suicidal tendencies

·         Risk Factors

How is the condition Diagnosed?

A number  of tests and exams are used to confirm the prognosis and rule out any other possibilities that may cause excessive weight loss. These tests and scans may include:

In a physical exam, the doctor might check your vital signs and measure your height and weight.

Lab Tests may include a complete blood count (CBC) and specialized blood tests to check electrolytes and functions of organs such as the liver and kidney.

Other tests may include a full psychological evaluation, X-Ray, bone density tests, etc.

How do you manage the case?

Treatment for anorexia may range for hospitalization for medical complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalance or psychiatric emergencies.

Having family members around who can help restore confidence and ensure the patient gets back to a healthy weight can be very helpful.

Psychotherapy is another way of treating anorexia as it will address the emotional and behavioural problems that one may be facing.

Alternative treatment such as yoga, meditation, massage may also help.