What is anorexia? Why does it occur, and is it treatable?
Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that arises from a reduction or complete cessation of caloric intake due to both a fear of gaining weight and psychological factors. This condition leads to a decreased desire to eat and causes extreme weight loss due to the individual's effort to maintain their body image and the psychological difficulties they experience.
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Anorexia is a significant eating disorder with both physical and psychological dimensions that seriously affects an individual's quality of life and carries life-threatening risks if not intervened upon early.
WHAT IS ANOREXIA?
Anorexia is a psychological disorder in which an individual severely restricts their eating habits due to body dissatisfaction and a fear of gaining weight, leading to dangerous weight loss. In this illness, not eating and staying thin become an obsession.
In the initial stage, individuals reduce the amount they eat, but as the disease progresses, they begin to consume almost no food. Some anorexia patients resort to intense exercise, while others use methods such as unhealthy diet cures and detox teas to burn calories. This situation can lead to life-threatening levels of weight loss.
WHY DOES ANOREXIA OCCUR?
Anorexia is generally caused by emotional breakdowns, traumas, genetic predisposition, societal beauty standards, and psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
In general, the factors that are effective in the emergence of anorexia nervosa are as follows:
Genetic factors
The risk of developing an eating disorder is approximately 10 times higher for individuals who have first-degree relatives with anorexia. Furthermore, chemical imbalances in the brain can lead to disruptions in the reward system that affects appetite, mood, and impulse control.
Traumas experienced
Anorexia can emerge as some individuals restrict their eating habits to cope with intense and painful emotions. Traumatic experiences such as physical violence or sexual abuse can also be effective in the development of eating disorders.
The influence of environment and culture
In societies where beauty is prioritized, people may be pressured to achieve unattainable body measurements. Content highlighted on social media, in particular, can increase the risk of anorexia by often associating thinness with beauty, happiness, and success.
Peer pressure
When children and adolescents subjected to peer pressure are mocked and bullied regarding their physical appearance, this situation can pave the way for the development of eating disorders.
IS ANOREXIA TREATABLE?
Anorexia treatment is applied using different methods depending on the severity of the disease. During the treatment process, collaboration with other medical branches may be established. Following the acceptance of the disease, psychological support is provided.
Medical nutrition therapy is quite important in this disorder. The patient's chance of recovery increases with psychopharmacology, cognitive behavioral therapy, and nutrition programs. Additionally, the role of family therapy in the treatment of anorexia nervosa is very significant.
Source: Memorial Hospital