Anorexia is one of the most common Eating Disorders (ED) and affects people of any age and gender. Even professional athletes are confronted with this disorder that causes serious physical and mental health consequences that can be life-threatening. Experts explain what are the keys to identify the symptoms and how it is treated.
Anorexia generates an immense fear of gaining weight, even when the weight of the people who suffer from it is below healthy. This causes them to diet or exercise excessively, even using other methods to lose weight aggressively. In general, it is a disorder that affects adolescent girls to a greater extent, although not exclusively in the case of men, in many occasions, it is more serious and has a worse prognosis.
The importance of identifying anorexia, explain the professionals, is vital taking into account all the problems it can lead to. The physical consequences of a lack of nutrients can lead to fatigue, hair loss, fainting, nail problems and even heart and bone complications (such as osteoporosis) and other damage to vital organs, among others; while the psychological consequences translate into a distorted perception of reality and of themselves, social isolation, low self-esteem, obsessive thoughts and depressive states.
The team of psychotherapists and nutritionist in Barcelona of Proyecto Art is one of the main referents in the sector. Its team of specialists warns of the importance of detecting the symptoms in time to find a solution before the problem worsens. To this end, they explain the characteristics of this disease, what it causes and how it should be treated.
Symptoms of anorexia that will allow you to detect it on time
The extreme fear of gaining weight due to anorexia can lead to extreme behaviors such as severe food restriction, but also to excessive exercise and the use of laxatives or diuretics to lose weight. When a person suffers from anorexia, explain the professionals in Eating Disorders, the first physical signs that can be detected have to do with a considerable drop in weight.
If the Body Mass Index (BMI) is taken into account, the value is usually below 17.5% and in the most extreme cases it can be less than 15%. In addition, in minors there is usually an interruption in the growth curve, which should be assessed by a physician in parallel to rule out other possible causes.
Experts remind, in any case, that the symptoms of anorexia manifest themselves gradually and sometimes go unnoticed at first. In adolescents, the common indicator is usually that of controlling food and avoiding certain foods and then gradually reducing their intake. Also, dressing very loosely or, on the contrary, wearing very tight clothes to emphasize weight loss.
Another common indicator is to devote oneself intensely to exercise or to focus excessively on studies. On the other hand, there is a predominant feeling of constantly feeling fat, despite losing weight. In the case of women it is very common to suffer from amenorrhea, which consists of an absence of menstruation.
While for men a distinctive symptom is usually hyperactivity -apart from the common symptoms of anorexia-. The profile of these people tends to be perfectionist and they spend a lot of time participating in numerous activities and sports, as well as being excessively demanding of themselves.
It is important to note, as mental health professionals point out, that restrictive anorexia can sometimes reverse the symptoms, and this is something that translates into the person being able to compulsively eat everything they find and lose control over their intake. In some episodes these symptoms are usually accompanied by vomiting provoked afterwards.
How is anorexia treated?
The important thing, first of all, is to detect it. In fact, as explained from the sector, many of the people suffering from anorexia are not usually aware that they suffer some kind of episode related to this disorder. Therefore, they stress the importance of having the support of an external person to become aware of the problem and find a solution as soon as possible.
They explain that early detection is essential to make it easier to heal and recommend that the social circle of the affected person should not look the other way and fight alongside him or her. Once aware of the problem, a solution must be found, and they stress that it can be completely overcome if the necessary tools are available.
For experts in TCA therapy is presented as the best option because it helps to manage the emotions that are linked to anorexia, but remember the importance of going to a doctor in case of serious health problems and, of course, have the help of a nutritionist specializing in the subject to receive help with the diet.
In the case of professional support, this is presented as a great tool to open the patient’s eyes so that he/she can progressively overcome this ED. However, they stress that the affected person must do his or her part for the process to be effective, which implies, among other things, following a good diet.
To this end, they recommend turning to nutritionists who are experts in eating disorders, as is the case of Proyecto Art, who design a specific diet adapted to the needs of each person. This diet, moreover, is evolutionary, which allows the patient to adapt gradually to eating, so that the process is more effective.
The professionals in the sector stress the importance of following a personalized treatment, since these are the best results. Likewise, they recommend a follow-up at all times, including in the improvement phases and, of course, in cases of relapse.
Finally, they emphasize that in the most delicate cases, when the person is very thin, a period of hospitalization may be necessary. The aim is for the patient to recover in order to continue the improvement treatment at home, and of course in a safe manner.
