Anorexia is a type of eating disorder where the subject in question has excessive weight loss and continues to practice self-starvation. A person who has anorexia is called anorexic. People who are anorexic tend to refuse to keep or maintain a body weight at or above the minimal normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level. This person has an obsession to remain slim because of intense fear of becoming fat. Despite drastic weight loss, an anorexic would still say that he or she is still too fat. As a consequence of improper nutrition and lack of food intake, menstrual periods may stop. An anorexic may also over-exercise to lose more weight. Later on, the person would have difficulty eating and would lie about eating. Moreover, he or she would be weighing himself or herself continually. Looking into the mirror, this person would probably verbalize how disgusting his or her body looks.
Emotionally and mentally, an anorexic has fears of becoming fat. Most often, an anorexic is a depressed person. Because of this, the person may prefer social isolation and may have difficulty expressing feelings. Despite all this, the person still has this urge to be in control and develop a rigid thinking about things. Because of lack of energy, this person may have no interest in sex or fears it. The lack of self-esteem factors greatly in an anorexic’s obsession with weight. Furthermore, a person with anorexia is usually irritable.
Another sign of an anorexic person is low body weight, about 15% or more below of what is expected for age, activity level, and height. The lack of food leads to fatigue, lack of energy, and muscular weakness. Muscular weakness may result to an unsteady gait and decreased balance. The body temperature, as well as blood pressure and pulse rate are lowered in anorexia nervosa. There is also tingling in the hands and feet and thinning hair or hair loss. The person may also develop heart arrhythmia.
It is rather difficult to treat people with anorexia because they believe that they have normal weights. Those who are anorexic for less than six months may be treated without hospitalization. The treatment would never prevail unless the patient has a change of heart and mind. Support groups such as family and friends have to be there to support the patient. Those who have had their anorexia for a long time, they need to be hospitalized. The patient should be preferably placed in a unit for people with the same problem. As mentioned previously, the only way for a person to fully recover is to change his or her perception about weight. Counseling is recommended for anorexic patients for a year or more, depending on the progress. Depressed anorexic patients would be given medications to address that problem. The medications must be prescribed by the doctor and are used hand in hand with counseling. For the record, family and friends should not give in to the alibi of an anorexic not to eat.
