Anorexia Nervosa: Some Signs and Symptoms & Treatment Options

A Quick Guide

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that can be life-threatening if the case is severe. It is characterized by a person having an extremely low body weight, a disturbance in their view of self, and an intense fear of gaining weight. A person with anorexia may resort to either starvation or carefully controlling their calorie intake, using purging or misuse of laxatives as a means to do so. The treatment for anorexia can prove to be challenging as those with the disorder may oppose any attempts to get back to a healthy body weight. Hence, there needs to be a complete treatment plan depending on the client’s requirements. 

Symptoms

Starvation is a factor in the physical signs and symptoms of anorexia. Along with mental and behavioral problems, anorexia also involves a false perception of weight and a paralyzing fear of getting obese. Because what is deemed a lower body weight varies from person to person and some people may not appear exceedingly thin. Hence, it may be challenging to identify the signs and symptoms. Additionally, anorexics frequently conceal their health issues, eating patterns, and thinness.

Physical Symptoms

Some of its physical symptoms and indicators might include the following:

• A thin frame 
• Abnormal heartbeats
• Body covered in soft, downy hair
• Callused knuckles and eroded teeth from forced vomiting
• Cold intolerance
• Dehydration
• Extreme weight reduction or failing to put on the necessary developmental weight
• Fainting or vertigo
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Finger discoloration that is bluish
• Irregular blood count
• Menstruation stops
• Reduced blood pressure
• Skin that is yellow or dry
• Sleeping too little (Insomnia)
• Stomach pain and indigestion
• Swelling in the legs or arms
• Thinning, damaged, or lost hair

Behavioral/Emotional Symptoms

Other emotional and behavioral symptoms may include the following:

• Complaining that they are overweight or that certain body parts are fat
• Eating only a select few “safe” foods, typically those that are low in calories and fat
• Establishing strict eating or mealtime customs, such as spitting out food after chewing
• Fear of gaining weight, which may involve routine body weighing or measurements
• Food fixation, which occasionally involves preparing extravagant meals for others and not eating them yourself
• Frequently examining oneself in the mirror to look for imperfections
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Low mood 
• Lying about the amount of food consumed
• Reduced sex drive
• Refusing to eat in front of others
• Regularly refusing to eat or skipping meals altogether
• Reluctance to eat or finding justifications for doing so
• Social isolation
• Wearing multiple layers of clothes for protection

Treatment

Usually, there is a whole panel of doctors, mental health professionals, and dieticians involved in the treatment of anorexia. The treatment aims to restore the person to a healthy weight. It also tries to help with emotional problems like poor self-esteem, correcting faulty thought patterns, and developing long-term behavioral adjustments. A person may need consistent therapy and nutritional education. Emergency care is required in severe cases including malnutrition, abnormal heartbeat, or kidney failure. 

Hospitalization

If a person’s life is in danger in severe cases, they may require hospitalization. Mostly, if a person has severe psychiatric issues, malnutrition, or a persistent refusal to eat. They may require regular monitoring of vital signs, hydration, electrolytes, and other physical issues. So they may be hospitalized. People with anorexia may first need to be fed through an IV or a tube that is inserted in their nasal passage and goes to their stomach in severe cases. A primary care physician or a mental health specialist typically coordinates care while other professionals are also involved.

Some clinics may offer treatment for people with eating disorders. Instead of full hospitalization, they might offer day programs or residential programs. Specialized eating disorder clinics may also provide longer-term, more intensive treatment of anorexia.

Nutritional Guidance

This approach aims to reestablish normal eating patterns, establish a healthy perspective on food and weight management, and stress the value of eating a balanced diet and good nutrients.

Medication

Since no treatment for anorexia has been demonstrated to be extremely effective, none are currently approved.  Some psychiatric drugs or antidepressant medications, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) however, can aid in treating additional mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.  Some antidepressant medications may also promote appetite and sleep.

Psychotherapy

This approach can help a person realize their incorrect beliefs about their body weight and shape. Moreover, it can help in changing the way they respond to stressful situations or how they deal with any past or present trauma. They may opt for individual or family-based therapy depending on their circumstances.

We hope you found this article useful in understanding the symptoms and the treatment options for Anorexia Nervosa. For more on the causes and who might be more prone to anorexia, check out our other article Understanding The Basics Of Anorexia Nervosa.