Anorexia

Anorexia is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia usually have a very low body weight because of an intense fear of gaining weight. They may not eat enough food because of this fear. Some people with anorexia make themselves vomit to avoid weight gain. Sometimes they exercise too much. They may have a false belief about how they look (distorted body image). And they may not realize how serious their low body weight is. If not treated, it can lead to serious health problems, starvation, and even death.

Anyone can have anorexia. It usually starts in the teen years. The earlier the problem is treated, the better the chances are that someone with anorexia can recover.

People who have anorexia may not know that they have a serious health condition. So it's important that other people in their life offer support and try to get help for them. If you're worried about someone, you can look for certain signs.

People who have anorexia may:

• Have a very low body weight for their age and height.
• Be very afraid of gaining weight.
• Have a false belief about how they look.
• Deny that their low body weight is a serious health problem.
• Base their self-esteem on how they view their body weight and shape.

Their lives become focused on controlling their weight. They may:

• Obsess about food, weight, and dieting.
• Strictly limit how much they eat.
• Have special ways of eating food or making it look like they've eaten when they haven't.
• Exercise a lot, even when they are sick.
• Vomit or use laxatives or water pills (diuretics) to avoid weight gain.

There is no single test that can diagnose anorexia. But this condition has a visible effect on your health and eating habits.

Your doctor will ask you questions to see if you have the main symptoms of anorexia. If your doctor thinks that you may have anorexia, they will compare your weight with the expected weight for someone of your height and age. Your doctor will also check for signs of malnutrition or starvation.

Common exams and tests include:

• A medical history of your physical and emotional health.
• A physical exam. This may include checking your heart, lungs, blood pressure, weight, mouth, skin, and hair for problems from malnutrition.
• Screening questions about your eating habits.
• A mental health assessment, to check for depression or anxiety.
• Blood tests, to check for signs of malnutrition.
• X-rays. They can show if your bones have been weakened by malnutrition.

All people who have anorexia need treatment. Treatment can help you get back to and stay at a healthy weight.

You may work with:

• A doctor. They will treat the medical conditions that have been caused by anorexia, such as osteoporosis, heart problems, or depression.
• A registered dietitian. They will help you learn healthy ways to eat and to understand what good nutrition is.
• A counselor or other mental health professional. They can help you learn skills to cope with the emotional issues behind anorexia.

If your weight has dropped too low, you will need to be treated in a hospital.

There are no medicines to treat anorexia. But an antidepressant medicine may help if you also have depression, an anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Anorexia can take a long time to overcome. Many people have ups and downs. Try to think of treatment as an ongoing process.