anorexia

food is the enemy

 

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight, and an obsessive fear of gaining weight due to a distorted self image which may be maintained by various cognitive biases that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about their body, food and eating. AN is a serious mental illness with morbidity and mortality rates as high as those seen in any psychiatric illness.

 

While the stereotype is that AN affects young white women, it can affect men and women of all ages, races, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

 

While there are various characteristic behavioral and physical signs associated with anorexia nervosa, not every sign is manifested in every individual. In addition to the visibly obvious dermatological signs like growing body and facial hair called lanugo, it causes dental cavities and tooth loss, the abdomen may become distended, and the joints may become swollen. The type and severity of the signs and symptoms vary in each case and may be present but not readily apparent. Anorexia nervosa and the associated malnutrition that results from self-imposed starvation, can cause severe complications in every major organ system in the body.

 

 

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