The text discusses various factors contributing to anorexia nervosa, emphasizing the significant social and psychological influences. Excessive exercise and strict dieting are common behaviors among individuals with this condition, driven by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image.
Treasure, J., & Alexander, J. (2013). Anorexia nervosa: A recovery guide for sufferers, families, and friends. London: Routledge.
Giordano, S. (2005). Understanding eating disorders: Conceptual and ethical issues in the treatment of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Insel, Paul; Ross, Don; McMahon, Kimberly; and Bernstein, Melissa. (2019). Discovering Nutrition. 6th Edition. Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Anorexia Nervosa
Middle-Upper Class Family-more likely to develop this disorder or some other eating disorder.
Western countries-often more common in these places.
Isolation and withdrawal-may withdraw from social circles so as to not let people know of their condition or habits, such as withdrawing from friends and family.
"...anorexia nervosa can be a severe illness with life-threatening complications"(Treasure, J., & Alexander,J. 2013).
Excessive exercise-Many feel a need to workout to extreme limits in order to burn calories and be thinner.
Fear of becoming fat-Many people who are anorexic or show signs of becoming anorexic live in constant fear of gaining weight and being fatter. They do whatever they need to avoid becoming fat. It is like an obsession.
Strict Diet-They follow a strict diet, often only eating certain foods and avoiding others. They have "safe foods" and often starve themselves, finding power in doing so.
Family life at home-struggles at home can affect one's choices, such as an abusive family, loss of loved one, cheating, etc.
Purging-person feels the need to vomit and get rid of stomach contents after eating.
Women-more likely to develop anorexia for biological reasons.
Gene variants-are not necessarily the cause but contribute to disease.
Social view of thinness-influences someone's view of themself.
Secrecy-usually tried to hide their habits.
Depression-use of antidepressants and feeling alone may lead to choices associated with anorexia.
Increased responsibility-such as with children and pressures of being a good parent.
An eating disorder characterized by little to no eating, desire to be more thin, low self-esteem and body image, and when one lives in fear of gaining weight, so they do all they possibly can to avoid it.
Body image damage-struggle with accepting their body for what it is and how it looks, often wanting to be even thinner when they are already thin.
Obsessive worrying about food-constantly worried about what they are eating, and often consume mainly water and sodas and small bits of food.
Loss of weight(rapidly)-extreme dieting and exercise and laxatives can lead to rapid weight loss. However, he/she cannot keep a healthy weight.
Obesity fear- if this condition runs in the family, one might choose to be anorexic to avoid it.
Using laxatives-after eating in order to get food out of system.
