Introduction
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder marked by abnormal eating habit developed due to irrational fear of gaining weight, self-inflicted notion of being fat and obsession with thinness. People suffering from anorexia try to reduce weight by excessive dieting or exercise, deliberately misusing laxatives, self-induced vomiting and enemas. This psychological eating disorder is found more in women than men; especially people involved in the profession where significant focus is laid on beauty, figure, and physique are more prone to develop this disturbing eating pattern. Plentiful celebrities are there suffering from anorexia or have died of anorexia. Heidi Guenther was an American ballet dancer who developed anorexia when told by a theater company that she was squatty with 96 lbs and 5'5" height. She collapsed on her way to Disneyland while on a break from ballet and died, prematurely at the age of 22, of complications from her abnormal eating habit. Victoria Beckham, Posh Spice from the Spice Girls and David Beckham's wife recently admitted of her struggle with anorexia for years due to the pressure from the management to look thin. This paper would discuss about anorexia in detail throwing light on its causes, symptoms and treatment.
Causes of Anorexia
The factors triggering anorexia are an amalgam of biological, psychological and social reasons. Research has revealed that women abused in childhood or in their growing years are more likely to develop anorexia, about 35% women with the history of abuse having been found with the symptoms of anorexia. Fiona Apple, the famous American singer and songwriter who bagged a Grammy award for the single 'Criminal' was raped at the age of 12 and she reacted to the incident by developing the eating disorder.
Further, it is believed that genetics play a huge role in anorexia. People with family history of anorexic patients are eight times more prone to develop this eating disorder. Serotonin, a brain chemical that induces depression is deemed to be responsible for the genetic eating disorder. Twins, for example, tend to share the same eating disorder. Celebrity models, Shane and Shia known as the Barbie twins are both anorexic having battled with the disorder for years. They have even published a book 'Barbie Twins - Dying To Be Healthy: Millennium Dieting and Nutrition' to share the story of their struggle with anorexia.
Culture also plays a role in triggering anorexia. Some professions idolize thinness and put huge pressure on those involved in that industry to stay thin. Modern day fashion models walking on the ramp are all dangerously thin. The news of models having died of self-induced starvation are not uncommon. Beauty and sexual desirability are associated with thinness with some renowned apparel brands designing clothes and featuring anorexically thin models to promote their garments. Struggling with the perpetual pressure of losing weight and being thin, many people involved in the fashion and glamour industry turn anorexic. Take the case of Victoria Beckham who admitted of the huge pressure from the management to look thin. Not only her, Melanie C, another spice girl too admitted of battling with eating disorder. All the while when she was with 'Spice Girls', Melanie self-starved herself and exercised immoderately to appear thin. This culture of relating thinness to beauty has influenced many young girls and women to turn anorexic.
Hormonal abnormalities due to thyroid, irregular menstruation and stress related problems also contribute to anorexia. The chemical changes brought about by these issues often play a role in developing eating disorders. The stress hormones called glucocorticoid and cortisol are present in quite high level in anorexic patients. Ghrelin, the hormone that controls the appetite and slows metabolism is also noticeably present in patients with anorexia. (UMMC)
Symptoms and Treatment
Some symptoms typical of anorexia include 15% below ideal body weight, irrational fear of gaining weight or becoming obese even when one is underweight, unwillingness to eat, obsession with dieting and checking body weight, excessive exercise, irregular menstruation and hair loss. It is important to seek medical help if these symptoms are noticed in anyone. An array of lab tests including blood test, electrocardiogram and bone density test and a psychological evaluation through the SCOFF questionnaire are performed to diagnose anorexia. (UMMC) Patients with anorexia are treated with a combination of family therapy, psychotherapy and medication. Many a time an anorexic patient does not want to acknowledge her sickness and hence it is very important to make her actively involved in the whole process of treatment. Many anorexic patients recover within few months of treatment and many combat the disorder throughout their lives. The risk of regression in anorexic patients, especially during a stressful situation, is very high.
Conclusion
Anorexia is a psychiatric eating disorder usually found in women. Patients with anorexia image themselves as obese even when they are underweight and perpetually try to keep their weight in control through restrictive eating, heavy exercise and frequent checking of body weight. People involved in the occupation of fashion and glamour industry are more vulnerable to this disorder due to huge professional pressure to appear thin. A lot of factors contribute to the development of this order including sexual abuse, family history, cultural pressure and hormonal abnormality among others. Seeking of medical help is important when anorexic symptoms are noted in a person. Mixed techniques of family therapy, psychotherapy and medication are applied for treatment. Many people recover within few months of treatment while others battle the disease lifelong. The risk of regression is common among anorexic patients.
Works Cited
1. Anorexia Nervosa, Retrieved on 27th April 2013 http://www.anad.org/get-information/get-informationanorexia-nervosa/
2. Anorexia nervosa, UMMC. Retrieved on 27th April 2013 http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/anorexia-nervosa-000012.htm
3. Eating disorders - Causes, UMMC. Retrieved on 27th April 2013 http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_causes_eating_disorders_000049_3.htm
