What is Anorexia nervosa?
It is an eating disorder that makes people want to weigh less than is healthy.
People with anorexia nervosa:
- Weigh much less than they should for their age and height – To lose weight, people eat too little, exercise too much, or do other things, such as make themselves vomit.
- Are very worried about gaining weight – To avoid gaining weight, they will not eat, even when they are hungry.
See their body and shape in an abnormal way – For example, they:
- Think they are fat, even when they are underweight
- Don’t understand that their low body weight can cause serious medical problems
- Feel good about themselves when they lose weight and bad when they gain weight
It is also common for people with anorexia nervosa to:
- Spend a lot of time thinking about food, meals, and calories
- Create rules around food and eating
- Skip meals and avoid eating in public
What can be the medical complications of Anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa can cause many problems. That’s because the body and brain don’t get the nutrition they need. Anorexia nervosa can cause:
- Problems with the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, and glands
- Bone loss and muscle weakness
- Bloating and trouble having bowel movements
- Thinning hair and nails that break easily
- Feeling cold all the time or tired a lot
How is anorexia nervosa treated?
Treatment for anorexia nervosa involves:
- Gaining weight – You will work with your doctor and a dietitian (food expert) to gain weight. The dietitian will make meal plans that can help you gain weight safely and slowly. The doctor will follow your weight and health closely.
- Psychotherapy – Psychotherapy involves meeting with a therapist to talk about your feelings, thoughts, and life. Different kinds of psychotherapy can be helpful, including:
- Working one-on-one with a therapist
- Family therapy – Your family can work with a therapist.
- Group therapy – You can join a group for people with eating disorders.
Medicines are not usually used to treat anorexia nervosa, except in certain cases when the above treatments alone don’t help.