Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes an eating disorder characterised by low body weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia often control body weight by voluntary starvation, purging, vomiting, excessive exercise, or other weight control measures, such as diet pills or diuretic drugs. It primarily affects young adolescent girls in the Western world and has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric condition, with approximately 10% of people diagnosed with the condition eventually dying due to related factors. Anorexia nervosa is a complex condition, involving psychological, neurobiological, and sociological components.

Anorexia is a life threatening condition that can put a serious strain on many of the body's organs and physiological resources. A recent review of the scientific literature outlined a number of reliable findings in this area. Anorexia puts a particular strain on the structure and function of the heart and cardiovascular system, with slow heart rate and elongation of the QT interval seen early on. People with anorexia typically have a disturbed electrolyte balance, particularly low levels of phosphate, which has been linked to heart failure, muscle weakness, immune dysfunction, and ultimately death. Those who develop anorexia before adulthood may suffer stunted growth and subsequent low levels of essential hormones and chronically increased cortisol levels. Osteoporosis can also develop as a result of anorexia in 38-50% of cases, as poor nutrition leads to the retarded growth of essential bone structure and low bone mineral density.

Changes in brain structure and function are early signs of the condition. Enlargement of the ventricles of the brain is thought to be associated with starvation, and is partially reversed when normal weight is regained. Anorexia is also linked to reduced blood flow in the temporal lobes, although since this finding does not correlate with current weight, it is possible that it is a risk trait rather than an effect of starvation.

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Related Links:

• Something Fishy
• Mayo Clinic

Recent Hope Cube Blog Entries For Anorexia Nervosa

• Anorexia and Chase Sun, January 13, 2008 - [view]
  I first developed anorexia at that age of 9.  I had always been a thin child, so no one really noticed me getting thinner.  My family was wealthy, but living beyond their means.  My mother would often tell me how much she worried about having enough food for our family.  As the least attractive, least talented, least intelligent, and least liked member of the family, I took it upon myself to help in the effort to conserve food.We lived close to my school, so instead of eating lunch at school I woulsd come home and watch television.  That way, no one would see what I wasn't doing.  At first, it was difficult.  I would get the most terrible hunger pangs.  Often times, they left me doubled over in agony.  I had to find some way to deal with ...