Anorexia Nervosa (Restricting Type)

Introduction

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that affects people’s body image, weight, mental health, physical health, and more. Restricting anorexia nervosa applies to a person who eats minimal or no calories, with or without extreme exercising. This topic matters because of misconceptions around the topic, like how people think anorexia only affects weight, but in reality, it affects every organ in the body, or how serious this issue is. The purpose of this blog is to educate people on anorexia, how it affects people, how to treat it, and to create awareness.

What Is Anorexia Nervosa Restricting Type?

Anorexia nervosa restricting type is when a person limits their food intake because of an intense fear of gaining weight or changing their body. In this type, binge (eating a lot of food then feeling guilty) or purging (eating and then vomiting) is not present.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Physical symptoms include extreme weight loss, dizziness, feeling cold, fainting, hormonal changes, stomach pain, and difficulty focusing.

Psychological and emotional symptoms include fear of gaining weight, depression, substance use, panic, low mood, stress, and anxiety.

Behavioral signs of anorexia include skipping meals, strict food rules, extreme exercising, avoiding social interaction involving food, such as hanging out in a cafe, and frequently checking themselves in the mirror or weighing themselves.

Causes and Risk Factors

Biological factors include genetics. This simply means the same disorder or brain chemistry that causes it often runs in families.

Psychological factors include the same indications above, as well as trauma, need for control, perfectionism, and more.

Sociocultural influences include diet culture, social media, puberty, and life events.

Health Risks and Complications

Short term risks include dehydration, low blood pressure, fainting, and more.

Long term consequences include cardiac, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neurologic, hematologic, and fertility problems.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis is typically made by a doctor, who considers many factors, including weight loss, obsession with weight, patients not wanting to acknowledge their condition, and physical exams such as kidney function, liver function, bone density, and more.

Treatment options are therapies such as nutrition, psychotherapy, medication, or hospitalization.

The Reality vs. Myths

• People of all genders, ages, body sizes, races, ethnicities, cultures, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds can have anorexia nervosa.

• Anorexia nervosa isn't a choice; it's an illness.

• People with Anorexia nervosa aren’t attention seekers.

• Anorexia nervosa isn't a phase.

• People can die because of anorexia nervosa.

• People can recover from eating disorders.

• Once you gain weight, it doesn't mean that the person has healed fully. Anorexia nervosa patients will need therapy and more later on.

How to Support Someone With Anorexia

• Get professional help.

• Listen to their feelings.

• Do not push them to eat.

• Be there when they need it.

• Educate yourself about anorexia.

• Avoid discussing weight, food, or related subjects.