Carbonell Institute
Eating disorders
Anorexia
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by self-induced weight loss leading to starvation. It is marked by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted, delusional body image, causing the sufferer to perceive themselves as fat even when their weight is below the recommended level. This leads to a progressive decrease in weight through fasting and reduced food intake. It typically begins with the elimination of carbohydrates, based on the false belief that they are fattening. The individual then rejects fats, proteins, and even liquids, leading to extreme dehydration. These drastic measures may be accompanied by other associated behaviors such as the use of diuretics, laxatives, purging, self-induced vomiting, or excessive exercise. Affected individuals can lose between 15 and 50 percent of their body weight in the most critical cases. This illness is often associated with serious psychological disturbances that cause behavioral changes, emotional disturbances, and a distorted body image.
Causes:
Its cause is unknown, but social factors appear to play a significant role. Although many sociocultural factors can trigger anorexia, it is likely that a portion of the population has a greater physical predisposition to this disorder, regardless of environmental pressures. Therefore, there are general factors associated with a triggering event or a certain biological vulnerability, which precipitates the development of the illness. These include: the patient's own obesity; maternal obesity; the death or illness of a loved one; parental separation; leaving home; academic failure; accidents; and traumatic events.
Symptoms of anorexia:
This disorder is characterized by significant weight loss caused by the individual and a distorted perception of their own body. Consequently, endocrine problems become evident in a relatively short period of time. The main symptoms that determine the onset of the disease are the following: Refusal to maintain body weight above the minimum appropriate for the individual's age and height; fear of weight gain or obesity, even when weight is below the recommended level; distorted perception of body shape, weight, and proportions; and absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles in women (amenorrhea). Individuals with anorexia may experience a wide range of symptoms, including constipation, amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. But it is the family who detects the warning signs: excessive concern about the caloric content of food and its preparation; constant feeling of cold; progressive reduction in food intake; obsession with body image, the scale, studies, and exercise; use of tricks to avoid eating; and hyperactivity. These symptoms are accompanied by other typical traits such as irritability, depression, and emotional or personality disorders. Furthermore, there is an altered sense of satiety and fullness before meals, nausea, bloating, or even a complete lack of appetite. This pathology also presents with numerous cognitive disorders centered on food, body weight, and physical appearance: Selective abstractions, selective use of information, generalizations, superstitions, magnification of the negative aspects of any situation, dichotomous thinking, self-referential ideas, and arbitrary inference. Regarding the clinical consequences, the symptoms are as follows: Heart rate decreases; arrhythmias occur, which can lead to cardiac arrest; blood pressure drops; menstruation ceases in women (amenorrhea); bone mass decreases, and in very early cases, growth is stunted; intestinal motility decreases; anemia occurs; fine, long hair, called lanugo, appears on the back, forearms, thighs, neck, and cheeks; chronic constipation develops; decreased energy expenditure produces a constant sensation of cold; the skin becomes dehydrated, dry, and cracked; and the palms of the hands develop a yellowish discoloration. The hands and soles of the feet become brittle due to the accumulation of carotene in the sebaceous glands. The nails become brittle. Hair loss occurs. Dental problems and peripheral edema develop. Abdominal swelling and pain may also occur.
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