Anorexia nervosa: A literature review

AgiAl Publishing House (http://www.agialpress.com), 2013

The diagnostic consideration of the eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa has been given much focus over the last two decades than previously, as clinicians have become more aware of the frequency of these disorders and the difficulties associated with their treatment (Brownell andFairburn 1995). Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa as known in the DSM-IV as eating disorders which are characterized by physically and/or psychologically harmful eating patterns. Although the psychological explanation of what we now call anorexia nervosa have been known about for centuries, it has only recently attracted much interest, due to greater public knowledge and increased incidence (although the latter claim has been disputed) (Gross and MclLveen 2006;Fombonne 1995). Most people suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa start by fasting. Anorexia nervosa is a deliberate self-starvation. A person whose body weight is less than expected for his or her body height and weight is considered to be anorexic. In contract, bulimia involves binge eating a large quantity of food followed by purging by self induced vomiting,enemas, laxatives, or diuretics (Goodenough et al. 2005).

Anorexia Nervosa has been a long-standing, much researched problem in modern medicine and psychology, with researchers, medical experts, psychology experts and media specialists trying to find a suitable answer for questions such as, why does anorexia develop, what is its main demographic, how does society affect the potential for anorexia development etc. While research has been done not only on popular discourse of anorexia nervosa, as well as the medical and clinical aspects and manifestations of the disease, the varying symptomatology of this disorder as well as the abundance of backgrounds it stems from in different patients, have made it hard to pin anorexia down. As of today, an official description and diagnostic assessment exist, yet instances of so-called "atypical" anorexia are becoming more frequent with the societal phenomena that spur on the development of the illness.

ijmtst, 2022

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental disorder with a characteristic appearance. It can affect people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, races, and ethnicities, but it is especially dangerous for adolescent girls and young adult women. Anorexia is caused by a combination of psychological, societal, and biological variables, and there is no single cause. Anorexia nervosa affects about 0.5-1.0 percent of women over the world. Previous research suggested that anorexia nervosa is a condition that exclusively affects women in Western countries; however, recent research has showed that it is more common in boys than previously assumed.The higher rate of anorexia nervosa in western countries compared to non-western countries was explained by cultural differences, as western culture places a high priority on thinness in young women. Being skinny, on the other hand, is socially unacceptable in most non-western cultures. Although anorexia nervosa is primarily a problem in Western countries, current data suggests that it is spreading to non-Western countries in both genders. This phenomenon was explained by a number of factors, including Western media attention, social and parental pressure, genetic and biochemical variables, and other psychological problems including such sexual abuse and poor self are also contributors.

IntechOpen eBooks, 2022

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder condition characterized by an abnormal fear of gaining weight, driving people to starve themselves and become dangerously thin. It involves restricting food intake, which can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies. Anorexia nervosa can affect people of all ages, genders, races and ethnicities. The effects of anorexia nervosa can be life threatening, but counseling and treatment for underlying mental health issues can help people with this condition. Goals of treatment include restoring the person to a healthy weight, treating emotional issues such as low self-esteem, correcting distorted thinking patterns, and developing long-term behavioral changes. Early diagnosis and treatment are more likely to lead to a positive outcome. The physical signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are related to starvation. Anorexia also includes emotional and behavioral issues involving an unrealistic perception of body weight and an extremely strong fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. This chapter aimed to understand the opportunities embedded and challenges encountered in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Information given will assist the patient and team of professionals (primary care physician, mental health professionals, nutritionist, counselors) in the treatment of this disorder to support recovery and prevent relapse.

Nutrients, 2023

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder with an unknown etiology that is characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with their weight and body structure while denying the severity of their low body weight. Due to the fact that anorexia nervosa is multifaceted and may indicate the coexistence of genetic, social, hormonal, and psychiatric disorders, a description of non-pharmacological interventions can be used to ameliorate or reduce the symptoms of this condition. Consequently, the purpose of the present narrative review is to describe the profile’s context in the anorexic person as well as the support they would require from their family and environment. In addition, it is aimed at examining preventative and non-pharmacological interventions, such as nutritional interventions, physical activity interventions, psychological interventions, psychosocial interventions, and physical therapy interventions. To reach the narrative review aims, a critical review was conducted utilizing both primary sources, such as scientific publications, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages, and databases. Nutritional interventions include nutritional education and an individualized treatment for each patient, physical activity interventions include allowing patients to perform controlled physical activity, psychological interventions include family therapy and evaluation of the existence of other psychological disorders, psychosocial interventions include management of the relationship between the patient and social media and physical therapy interventions include relaxation massages and exercises to relieve pain. All these non-pharmacological interventions need to be individualized based on each patient’s needs.

BJSTR, 2017

To provide deeper & novel perspective about Anorexia Nervosa, as an Eating Disorder. Other than focusing on book-based explanations on symptoms & treatments, to be able to get the picture of the mental disorder from the sufferers’ eyes….A disorder most often seen in adolescent females characterized by a refusal to maintain minimally normal body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, disturbance in body image, development of amenorrhea in postmenarcheal females Body weight is maintained at least 15% below that expected (either lost or never achieved), or Body Mass Index (BMI) is 17.5 or lessThe weight loss is self-induced by avoidance of ‘fattening foods’ and one or more of the following: self-induced vomiting; selfinduced purging; excessive exercise; use of appetite suppressants and/or diuretics. There is body-image distortion in the form of a specific psychopathology whereby a dread of fatness persists as an intrusive, overvalued idea and the patient imposes a low weight threshold on himself or herself.

2019

Introduction: The term bulimia nervosa describes a food intake disorder which is characterized by episodic binge eating (eating very large amounts of food in a short period of time), followed by the effort of purging all the unnecessary calories usually through vomiting, laxatives, diuretics and excessive exercise. Purpose: The purpose of this review is to present all aspects related to bulimia nervosa and its treatment. Methodology: The material of the study has been recent articles concerning the subject. They have been mainly found via electronic database Medline and the Hellenic academic libraries Link (HEAL-Link). Results: Bulimia nervosa is mainly manifested in women in approximately 90% compared to men. It usually starts during adolescence or early adulthood. About 4% of adolescent women suffer from bulimia nervosa. Approximately 50% of people who had suffered from anorexia nervosa develop bulimia or bulimic behaviors. It is difficult to define the total number of individual...

Disease-a-Month, 1985

Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2013

The purpose of this study is to discuss the approaches of different disciplines through comparisons of their methodologies and assessments. Taking all these approaches into account, the purpose of this study is to scrutinize how different disciplines approach the modern body through the examination of anorexic experience. The study focuses on anorexia because ,as an intersection point of multiple disciplines, it is a good case of how different fields have particular methodologies and analysis on same issues. Selection and peer review under the responsibility of Prof.

2015

Eating disorders are life-threatening conditions that are challenging to address; however, the primary care setting provides an important opportunity for critical medical and psychosocial intervention. The recently published Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed., includes updated diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa (e.g., elimination of amenorrhea as a diagnostic criterion) and for bulimia nervosa (e.g., criterion for frequency of binge episodes decreased to an average of once per week). In addition to the role of environmental triggers and societal expectations of body size and shape, research has suggested that genes and discrete biochemical signals contribute to the development of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa occur most often in adolescent females and are often accompanied by depression and other comorbid psychiatric disorders. For low-weight patients with anorexia nervosa, virtually all physiologic systems are affected, ran...