Anorexia Nervosa An Eating Disorder

Dr Kousar Karimi
The Term Anorexia Nervosa is derived from the Greek origin that means loss of appetite. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized as a disorder in which person refuse to maintain a minimally normal weight intensely fear gaining weight and significantly misinterpret their body and its shape. Approximately half of Anorexic persons will loose weight by drastically reducing their food intake. The other half of these patients will not only diet but will regularly engage in binge eating followed by purging behaviors.Anorexia Nervosa is more prevalent in females than males. Currently Karachi reported a prevalence rate of 21.7% of anorexia nervosa. The onset on anorexia nervosa usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 30 years. The Normal BMI (Body Mass Index) is 18 to 24kg/m2 but in anorexic patients it will decrease to 14 to 16 kg/m2.Risk factors may include family history, high level athletics, modelling, substance use disorder and dancing. These patients use abuse laxatives and even diuretics to lose weight and ritualistic exercising extensive cycling, walking, jogging and running are common activities. Anorexia nervosa leads to obsessive compulsive behavior, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, infertility, thyroid problems, heart damage and brain damage. If it not treated it can cause death of the patient.In view of complicated psychological and medical implications of anorexia nervosa, comprehensive treatment plan including hospitalization when necessary and both individual and family therapy, is recommended. Behavior, interpersonal and cognitive approaches and in some cases medication should be considered.