Food addiction: anorexia, bulimia, overeating

Anorexia and bulimia are diseases based on mental disorders. People suffering from bulimia and anorexia experience psychological problems with their own body image. Bulimia nervosa and anorexia are listed as mental disorders in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). Despite the fact that both medical terms are linked by a psychological factor, there is a difference between anorexia and bulimia.

Is refusal to eat bulimia or anorexia?

What are anorexia and bulimia?

Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder that manifests itself in the desire to lose weight using various more or less drastic measures. A person with anorexia is characterized by a disturbance in their self-perception. No matter how much he weighs, he claims to be too fat. In addition, an anorexic lives in constant fear of weight gain, striving daily to reduce it. Due to the type of action taken, psychologists classify two types of anorexia:

1. The first type is restriction of variety, which consists of a significant reduction in the amount of food intake. A person with this type of anorexia takes various diets to help lose weight. At the same time, an anorexic not only limits the body’s calories, but also loads it with excessive physical activity.
2. The second type is bulimic, which involves inducing vomiting and/or using laxatives. People with this type of anorexia, reaching the final phase of gluttony, subsequently get rid of food by any available means.

Bulimic type of anorexia is not bulimia!

The difference between anorexia and bulimia is that bulimia is not associated with sudden weight loss. On the contrary, people with bulimia consume excessive amounts of food and then try to get rid of it by taking various laxatives or artificially inducing vomiting.

Drug-induced anorexia is a type of neuropsychiatric disorder

Signs of impending danger

The symptoms of eating disorders can seem subtle and insidiously ambiguous.

• Dissatisfaction with your own weight, desire to lose weight, especially if your weight is normal or below normal.
• A distorted image of your body (you think that you are fat, although everyone around you assures you that this is not so).
• Excessive exercise.
• Excessive preoccupation with your weight and diet.
• Attacks of ravenous appetite.
• Significant fluctuations in body weight (three or more kilograms per month).
• Inability to differentiate between basic feelings, such as hunger or sadness.
• An aversion to certain types of food and an unusual craving for others.
• Stocking products.
• Passion for laxatives, diuretics and emetics.
• Depression and sleep disorders.

What people with both anorexia and bulimia have in common is that they have a distorted body image. It doesn't matter how thin they are, they still think they are fat, even though they know that by objective criteria they are underweight. Along with this misconception about themselves, patients deny the obvious. Many women with eating disorders refuse to admit that there is something wrong with them, making them difficult to treat.

For both anorexics and bulimics, controlling body weight becomes an important life goal. This is for them, although an unsuccessful, and in some cases life-threatening, way to solve their problems. Bulimia can accompany anorexia nervosa, but it can also occur independently.

Patients with bulimia nervosa watch their weight, exercise a lot, and diet regularly, but they experience bouts of binge eating at least twice a week. In a short time, they can eat a huge amount of high-calorie food, and often literally swallow the food without chewing it or feeling the taste.

This cycle can repeat several times a week, and in severe cases several times a day. Friends and family may not know that a loved one has this disorder because such patients usually feast alone. Unlike patients suffering from anorexia nervosa, they do not lose weight as quickly; they may weigh slightly less or even slightly overweight for their height, but their physical condition worsens.

In those patients who resort to vomiting, the mucous membrane of the throat, teeth, and esophagus are constantly exposed to acidic gastric contents. In patients, the activity of the pancreas is disrupted, which leads to hypoglycemia. Those who abuse laxatives and diuretics experience problems with the intestines or kidneys.

Since the body does not receive the substances necessary for normal functioning, the electrolyte balance is disturbed, and in advanced cases, dehydration, exhaustion and all those changes in the internal organs that we talked about with anorexia nervosa develop.

People suffering from anorexia nervosa, trying to lose weight, engage in intense physical exercise and strive to be constantly on their feet, believing that this will increase energy expenditure. At the same time, they begin to persistently limit themselves in food intake, despite the feeling of hunger.

To avoid conflicts in the family due to insufficient food intake, patients create the appearance of normal nutrition, for example, they discreetly hide and then throw away the “eaten” food. Some use laxatives and diuretics to lose weight, induce vomiting, and use various nutritional supplements for weight loss.

Persistent and active restriction in food leads to a significant drop in body weight, dystrophic changes in the most important vital organs, somatoendocrine disorders, and cachexia. The most severe cases of anorexia nervosa can be fatal. With weight loss, oligomenorrhea (shortened, infrequent menstruation) and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for more than six months) develops.

Physical activity gradually decreases, patients move less and lie more. Dystrophic changes in the skin, muscles, and internal organs (including the myocardium - heart muscle) develop. Patients look pale and exhausted, blood pressure and temperature decrease, signs of anemia appear, a significant decrease in blood sugar is recorded, and the activity of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted.

Concerned relatives who do not understand anything often invite therapists or gynecologists, and since patients carefully hide the true reasons for fasting, and secondary somato-endocrine disorders are very pronounced, diagnostic errors are possible here. Meanwhile, in such cases it is necessary to urgently call a psychiatrist.

Treatment must be comprehensive. In the first days of stay in the clinic, the greatest attention is paid to the patient’s somatic condition (dystrophic changes in the myocardium, hypotension, endocrine disorders, etc.), symptomatic and restorative treatment is carried out. When prescribing a diet, the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and pancreas is taken into account.

Bulimia

- this is “wolf hunger”, a sharp increase in appetite. People suffering from bulimia eat at night, or in sudden attacks, or constantly, without leaving the cash register at all. It is clear that this behavior leads to obesity.

This is bad not only for a young girl who is “actively searching”, but for any person in general - it causes problems with the heart, joints, cholesterol, diabetes... Therefore, cunning people struggle with their bulimia. And it would seem to be easier to fight here - you just need to induce vomiting. Oil painting: you eat, eat, get high, and then five minutes in the toilet - and again you’re ready for the next change of dishes.

The main thing here is not to overdo it. A bulimic patient who struggles with obesity too seriously throws out everything he has eaten along with vomiting. But the body needs to eat! This is not far from bulimia to anorexia!

Anorexia

is a mental illness in which a person considers himself too fat and does everything to lose weight. An anorexic girl declares her body’s completely legitimate desire to eat bulimia (an unhealthy, “wolfish” appetite) and fights it to the fullest extent of her character: she causes vomiting, or diarrhea, or simply refuses to eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zmTHlPuhHI

Bulimia can be caused by real organic disorders - diseases of the nervous and endocrine systems. Or it may also have a psychological nature - people “eat stress.” Taking antidepressants helps with bulimia,

it's proven.

Anorexia is more difficult; it is a disease of girls with a will of steel and powerful self-hypnosis. They don’t have any depression, but they have a frantic desire to succeed in this life, and they know what this success looks like: all television channels, cinema and fashion magazines constantly call for losing weight. Whoever has been the main character of a Hollywood film - black women, Chinese women, lesbians, and God knows who - but not a single fat one! - Why is that?

Because the problem of obesity and related diseases is very acute in America. A third of the US population is obese, causing an epidemic of diabetes, and up to 10% of all healthcare spending is spent on combating obesity and its consequences.

Accordingly, Hollywood does what it’s supposed to do—propaganda. It doesn’t matter who the actress plays - a policewoman, or a victim of a serial killer, or the serial killer himself - she will definitely be fit, fresh from the gym, or from yoga, or from the pool. — Distortion of American reality? - This is the American dream, fuck off.

Every woman takes care of her appearance, and in her dreams she sees herself several kilograms thinner and slimmer. Some go to the gym to realize their dreams, others choose strict diets or refuse to eat at all. In the latter case, we should talk in more detail about the risk of serious health consequences.

What not to do if you have an eating disorder

1. Don't weigh yourself the morning after a glutton . There is no need to add stress to yourself with this meaningless action - you won’t see anything special there. Yes, you will gain weight: but most of it will be swelling and glycogen .
2. Don't wear anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. Dress in a way that makes you feel comfortable. What could be better than putting on your tightest T-shirt and jeans after overeating? Like, it will be scary, you definitely won’t lose your temper *sarcasm*. You should be comfortable in your clothes, so it makes sense to wear a looser sweater and wider pants. Yes, the day after compulsive overeating will not be the most joyful day of your life, but this too will pass!
3. Don't scold yourself . Constant criticism and swearing at yourself does not work, but only aggravates the situation, understand this once and for all.

We could, of course, write “it’s better not to look for ways to cope with the consequences of gluttony, and not to overeat - eat enough during the day and not go on a strict diet,” but what’s the point if it doesn’t work? In theory, this is true, but in practice, gluttons are the same eating disorder that is not so easy to get rid of.

Symptoms of Eating Disorders

The defining characteristic of a normal eating disorder is recurrent episodes that occur on average at least once a month for at least 3 months. The amount of food eaten in a limited time significantly exceeds the normal amount. The specific type of food does not matter - what matters is how much food is consumed in one sitting.

The prevalence of binge eating disorder is 1.6 percent for women and 0.8 percent for men. In addition, people prone to increased emotional sensitivity and susceptible to the influence of negative emotions are more likely to be prone to compulsive overeating.

Causes of anorexia and bulimia

The main cause of anorexia is the psychological aspect. These include social and biological factors. As for the psychological side of the problem, most people with anorexia are prone to perfectionism - painfully inflated ambitions for themselves. Among children, the highest incidence is observed in those who study well, live in social and material well-being, and occupy a leading position among their peers. The ambitions of people with anorectic tendencies are often unrealistic.

Signs of anorexia - obsession with calories and weight loss

Anorexics cannot cope with failure, wanting to be the best in all areas of life. The cult of the skinny body created by newspapers, television and the Internet has a great influence on the emergence of anorexia, especially among girls. The environment is also important - family, friends, colleagues at work and hobbies.

Their assessment, or rather lack of acceptance, criticism, too high demands, incorrect patterns or constant stress - these are the factors that can give a trigger reaction to the development of eating disorders . Most often, people with anorexia have too high levels of cortisol, or the stress hormone, and at the same time low levels of norepinephrine and endorphin (the happy hormone), which influence a good mood.

Bulimia nervosa is common in children and young women

Bulimia is a disease that is very common in children and adolescents. The most common causes of bulimia are:

• lack of acceptance;
• constant conflict and poor contact with the environment;
• child neglect by parents;
• too high demands from others;
• very large and/or rapid changes in life;
• damage to the satiety center in the brain;
• inability to cope with certain tasks.

What is the difference between bulimia and anorexia?

Bulimia and anorexia are not interchangeable diseases, although their symptoms are the same. The first thing to say is that anorexic syndrome (restrictive anorexia) is less treatable and often causes death, unlike bulimia, which is easier to correct.

From the point of view of the patient’s psychological state, there are 3 stages of bulimia:

• Unconscious stage. We are talking about the presence of prerequisites for the development of eating disorders. It can manifest itself as nighttime “gluttonies,” which initially cause a feeling of satisfaction, followed by guilt and reproaches. At this stage, it is difficult to diagnose the disorder; others and the patient do not notice any abnormalities.
• Awareness. Violations become persistent and regular. Phobias and fears increase, a depressive state develops, and the feeling of control over the process of eating food disappears. Forced emptying of the stomach becomes a necessity, which is now dictated not only by psychological desire, but also by processes occurring in the body - severe discomfort in the stomach, dizziness, pain.
• Action period. The patient subconsciously begins to realize that what is happening to him is not the norm. At this point, treatment should begin.

Anorexia has the following stages:

• Dysmorphophobia. In a person’s subconscious, an obsession arises about the imperfection of his body, about excess weight. Signs of the disease include constant weight monitoring and calorie counting.
• Dysmorphomania. A person carefully hides his refusal to eat, eats alone, increases physical activity, eats while standing, sleeps little, food can be replaced with energy drinks and coffee. Start taking medications that supposedly reduce appetite, improve metabolism, etc. In addition, anorexics, due to prolonged fasting, can eat inedible items - toothpaste, chalk, etc.
• Cachexia. There is a pronounced depletion of the body, usually the stage occurs after 1-2 years of development of the disease. A person feels a sharp aversion to food, and there may be fear of drinking any liquids. Weight is below normal, fat mass is minimal, but the desire to lose weight prevails over any rational arguments. The result of the cachectic stage is often death.

Many sources indicate that these terms are almost synonymous, and bulimia is just a separate stage of anorexia. But these are different phenomena that should be considered separately.

The words “anorexia” and “bulimia” can be found quite often in everyday life. The only difference between these diseases is what kind of relationship between a person and food prevails in them. If anorexia involves a complete refusal to eat without any preparation for this, then in the case of bulimia everything is a little different. First, real gluttony comes to the fore, and only after that the person completely refuses to eat.

We are talking about anorexia if the patient:

• tries to gradually completely give up food, saying that this is the real success of health;
• follows a strict diet (less than 800 kcal per day);
• follows non-standard diets that involve a gradual reduction in calories consumed per day.

A woman should consume at least 1,200 calories per day; for men, the same figure is 1,500 calories. If there is much less of them, the body begins to actively produce cortisol, the stress hormone. It begins to use muscle tissue to obtain energy. Fat mass can disappear, but it can also be deposited, especially in the abdominal cavity. Therefore, looking at photographs of eyewitnesses of the Holodomor of 1932-1933, you can see skinny arms and legs, but an excessively bloated stomach.

Bulimia nervosa, on the contrary, involves a huge amount of food absorption at one time. To prevent the food eaten from turning into fat deposits, a person tries to prevent the absorption of food in the digestive tract. To do this, vomiting must be artificially induced immediately after the person has eaten. Other options can also be used:

• gastric lavage (drinking large amounts of water before vomiting);
• use of laxatives;
• use of diuretics;
• the use of enemas or the method of intestinal lavage;
• the use of medications that block the possibility of absorption in the intestine;
• taking other fat burners.

In connection with all that has been said, we can conclude that these are completely different concepts. The difference is that in achieving the only goal - losing weight - anorexics simply do not eat anything, while patients with bulimia try in every possible way to utilize the food they eat even before it is digested.

Both diseases are characterized by obvious disturbances of appetite, but according to the prognosis they have significant differences. Many patients with bulimia are obese, so they try to alternate bouts of binge eating with bouts of vomiting. The problem lies at the level of consciousness, when there is a clear confidence that this way is really possible to lose weight.

There are three stages of anorexia:

• Preanorexic or body dysmorphic. At this stage, symptoms are expressed by thoughts about fatness and rejection of one’s body. Feeling ashamed of your appearance in front of others.
• Anorexic or body dysmorphomaniac. At this stage, hunger strikes are practiced. Medicines may be taken to reduce appetite or speed up metabolism. Regular food is sometimes replaced with inedible items to fill the stomach.
• Cachectic. This is severe anorexia, which poses a direct threat to life. In this case, there is a complete loss of appetite, serious problems with internal organs appear, etc., so an immediate visit to a psychiatrist is required.

A little more detail

Having understood how bulimia differs from anorexia, let's highlight the main features of the latter.

1. Anorexics practically do not use weight loss methods such as enemas and artificial induction of vomiting. Their main hobby is excessive physical activity, all kinds of diets and the use of special drugs for weight loss.

2. People suffering from anorexia stop assessing themselves sensibly. If bulimics are able to see the result of their actions, then anorexics, even after losing 50% of their body weight, may seem in the mirror that they are fat and not at all thin. This is what explains the next point.
3. Anorexia is more of a mental illness than a physical one. If bulimia and anorexia have a common beginning, then their outcome is as follows: bulimics, even if they want to eat and stop torturing themselves, over time will not be able to do this physically, since their body will reject food. But anorexics only end up worsening their mental state.
4. Patients with anorexia are mainly girls from 16 to 25 years old.
5. The disease can occur as a result of other diseases of the endocrine system.
6. Anorexics suffer from fatphobia - the fear of excess weight.

Why does anorexia occur?

Anorexia is a nervous disease in which a person constantly thinks that he is fat, which is why he partially or completely refuses to eat. Often patients go beyond all limits in losing weight. They reduce their weight below normal, their body begins to self-destruct, and it still seems to them that they have excess fat. Why does such a pathology occur?

The causes of anorexia are noted mainly in the psychological factor: the influence of the media and fashion, criticism of others, young age. Up to 90% of anorexics are girls under 20 years old. 10% of patients with anorexia are men and women of mature age.

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Symptoms of anorexia

Lack of appetite in primary or drug-induced anorexia, despite the body’s objective need for nutrition, does not occur on its own. A person tries to convince himself that he does not look good enough against the background of his surroundings, that is, he is too fat, despite the fact that people convince him of the opposite.

The first signs of anorexia

Symptoms and behaviors that suggest someone is suffering from anorexia:

• obsession with calories;
• neglecting food in company;
• numerous excuses to refuse food;
• the subject of conversation with such a person is only food and excess weight;
• constant dissatisfaction with oneself and one’s own figure.

In addition, a person with a tendency towards anorexia has compulsive behavior - a passion for exercise, laxatives and antiemetic drugs.

Treatment of eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, overeating)

The disorder is usually used unconsciously as an overcompensation for negative emotions, nervous, emotional stress or depression.

Eating disorders are treated in the same way as bulimia and other disorders of this spectrum, with an emphasis on psychotherapy as the main component of successful treatment.

Although there are many different treatment paths (medication, hypnosis, coding, and several others), almost all of them begin with contacting an eating disorder specialist. This is usually a psychotherapist or psychologist with experience in helping patients suffering from eating disorders. Before starting standard treatment, it would not hurt to have a medical examination from a psychotherapist or psychologist who specializes in solving this range of problems to better understand possible somatic problems that could arise as a result of the disorder.

Psychotherapy for eating disorders

Psychotherapy is the leading method in the treatment of eating disorders. Psychotherapy may be time-consuming if the disorder is associated with or has underlying other problems (sexual abuse, depression, substance use, or relationship problems). In such cases, problem solving begins with those at the root of the disorder, and as they are resolved, levels of emotional health and well-being emerge and are strengthened. The focus of psychotherapy will be on addressing the underlying emotional and cognitive issues that have led to disordered eating.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an integral part of eating disorder treatment, using a targeted approach to help the patient understand how their thinking, lack of self-control and poor self-esteem can directly affect their eating and lifestyle.

CBT often aims to change unconstructive patterns of thinking and behavior that provoke and perpetuate a person's attitude towards harmful eating tactics. CBT helps the patient to identify, understand and change their irrational thoughts and make changes in reality through behavior changes (for example, encouraging healthy eating by setting goals, rewards, etc.). The same applies equally to weight, image, body shape and diet.

Drug treatment

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) reduce appetite, reduce psychiatric symptoms, and speed recovery. However, there is currently no objective evidence to show that improvements were maintained after patients stopped taking the medications.

Family therapy

Incorporating family or couples therapy into patients' care may help prevent relapse by addressing interpersonal problems associated with the eating disorder. Therapists can help family members understand the patient's disorder and teach new problem-solving techniques.

Remember: the sooner food addiction treatment begins, the better. The longer the abnormal eating patterns, the more deeply ingrained they are, the more difficult they are to treat. Disturbances can seriously impair the performance and health of patients. But the prospects for long-term recovery are good for most people who seek professional help. Qualified psychotherapists and SDK Puzzle psychologists with experience in this field can effectively help those suffering from eating disorders restore their psychological comfort and improve relationships with their lives.

Clinic phone number for appointments in St. Petersburg +7 (812) 903-85-03

We wish you and your loved ones health!

Treatment methods

If the patient has visible signs of anorexia, urgent hospitalization is necessary, followed by diagnostics of the whole body. According to the results, it turns out that pathological thinness has a detrimental effect not only on appearance, but also on internal health. For example, the functioning of the myocardium is disrupted, extensive pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system predominate, and endocrine disorders with hormonal imbalances cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the approach to a health problem must be comprehensive. Here's what experienced experts recommend:

1. It is necessary to force-feed the patient with the possible introduction of food and glucose through an IV.
2. The work of experienced psychologists who are able to reliably determine the etiology of the pathological process and eliminate the pathogenic factor is welcomed.
3. It is important to carry out drug therapy with the participation of antidepressants, multivitamin complexes and other pharmacological groups.
4. It is necessary to minimize physical stress on a weakened body and begin to lead a social lifestyle.
5. It is recommended to conduct cognitive behavioral therapy to productively eliminate the causes of anorexia and prevent recurrence in the future.

Symptoms of bulimia

What should alarm parents and/or those close to them in order to suspect bulimia in children and adults:

• depressed mood;
• frequent headaches and abdominal pain;
• attacks of gluttony;
• frequent use of laxatives;
• constant feeling of hunger;
• frequent vomiting.

Eating disorder with medicinal bulimia

Typical symptoms of bulimia include:

• dehydration;
• gastrointestinal disorders (constipation);
• low blood pressure;
• damage to tooth enamel;
• ecchymosis - hemorrhages into the skin or mucous membrane;
• caries;
• pale complexion;
• Irregular menstruation.

Unlike patients with anorexia, people with bulimia have body weight that is often stable or fluctuates slightly.

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia is eating in excess, followed by emptying the stomach through artificially induced vomiting. Evacuation is accomplished with the help of diuretics, laxatives or enemas, sometimes these measures are used in various combinations. This behavior is senseless and obsessive, taking on the form of addiction. Because people with bulimia tend to keep their problem a secret by maintaining a normal or near-normal body weight, they often successfully hide their problem from others for many years.

Bulimia can be difficult for families, friends and doctors to detect if the patient hides it. His weight remains normal due to constant cleanings, the frequency of which can vary from once or twice a week to several times a day. Often, to maintain weight, patients resort to dieting between excesses of overeating, sometimes leading themselves to anorexia. The breach usually occurs in secret, or at least as discreetly as possible. After an episode of binge eating, people with this disorder often feel depressed and ashamed of themselves, but are relieved of tension and negative emotions when their stomachs are empty again.

How to treat?

Is it possible to treat bulimia and anorexia at the same time? After all, sometimes it happens that these two disorders are combined in one organism. Of course you can. But each disease is treated differently. For those who suffer from bulimia and anorexia, simply select the right combination therapy.

But both of these disorders are treated differently, although they have something in common. The first thing you should remember is that bulimia is quite easy to cure if the patient wishes, but with anorexia serious problems can arise.

Why does bulimia occur?

What reasons become factors in the development of bulimia? It is difficult to identify a single cause of bulimia. Psychologists note it in the passionate desire to be beautiful, which is combined with various stresses, gorging on food.

Often women who are squeezed by rules and conventions suffer from bulimia. When some kind of stress arises, they eat it. Uncontrolled eating is associated with a desire to self-soothe. When the meal is finished, the woman experiences a feeling of guilt for gluttony, which is combined with a feeling of hatred towards herself. Here she begins to torture herself in various ways in order to get rid of the food she has eaten.

Fashion trends, cultural factors, psychology, genetics, social rules and much more influence the bulimic, who then begins to suffer from gluttony and self-torture.

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Consequences of anorexia and bulimia

Nutritional deficiencies, as well as progressive underweight, have a detrimental effect on the body. Eating disorders cause side effects such as depression, weakness and apathy, anemia, memory problems, dry skin, weak hair and nails, fainting, constipation and bloating, drop in blood pressure and pulse, hormonal imbalance and infertility. In addition, people with anorexia or bulimia have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis due to an accelerated decline in immunity. Also, such mental disorders inhibit growth in children and contribute to the development of other physiological abnormalities. Take care of yourself and always be healthy!

Symptoms of overeating

If episodes of overeating are repeated with characteristic signs:

1. The amount of food eaten over a certain period of time significantly exceeds the normal amount eaten by a healthy person in a similar environment. There is a lack of self-control, and the patient feels that he cannot stop the process, limit the amount or choose food.
2. Binge eating episodes include at least 3 of the following:
   The rate of food absorption is much higher than usual.
3. Satiety leads to discomfort instead of pleasant satiety.
4. The beginning of the process is not associated with the feeling of hunger and does not depend on it.
5. Food is consumed because it is there.
6. During the process, the patient experiences self-loathing, depression, and at the end of the process, a feeling of guilt.
7. An eating disorder was noted.
8. Deviations from the norm occur on average at least once a week for 3 months.
9. Binge eating is not associated with actions aimed at purging food, as in bulimia, and does not occur exclusively in cases of bulimia or anorexia.
10. It is precisely established if:
    In partial remission: over an extended period of time, binge eating still occurs, but with an average frequency of less than one episode per week.
11. In complete remission: over a long period of time, none of the signs of overeating were noticed.

The diagnosis also notes the degree from mild to extreme cases:

• Mild: 1-3 eating disorder episodes per week
• Moderate: 4-7 episodes
• Heavy: 8-13 episodes
• Extreme: 14 or more episodes

Description of the disease

Anorexia begins with reducing portions, dieting, or eliminating fatty and high-calorie foods. Over time, certain dietary rules may emerge. At first, conversations about diets, exercise, and excess weight come up often, but over time they subside. Next, joint dinners and holidays are avoided, where it becomes increasingly difficult to hide refusal to eat. After some time, the weight decreases to life-threatening levels, which complicates treatment.

Anorexia nervosa is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• panic fear of gaining weight;
• obsession with maintaining minimal weight;
• disruption of normal sleep patterns;
• general lethargy and weakness;
• punishing oneself with exhausting physical activity in case of increasing portions or consuming “forbidden” foods;
• changing eating habits - chopping food into pieces, eating while standing, preference for liquid dishes.

If we are talking about a teenager, then it is worth noting the sudden interest in fashion and diets. The child may begin to wear baggy clothes to hide their body, refuse favorite treats, and avoid eating with adults.

Risk factors

Risk factors for anorexia include biological, cultural, familial and intrapsychic conditions:

• adolescence;
• female (90-95%);
• cult of thinness;
• stress caused by high demands on oneself;
• low ability to understand your feelings;
• family conflicts or dependent relationships;
• early onset of adolescence;
• insulin-dependent diabetes;
• twin factor.

An alternative popular name for anorexia is “disease of excellent students.” Very often it affects teenage girls who strive to be the best, good, exemplary in everything, and meet the expectations of their parents.

Anorexia can be an incorrect option for self-medication in adolescents who are dependent on their parents. Gaining control over the body, they want to achieve autonomy from their parents.