Symptoms of anorexia. Anorexia: symptoms and treatment What is anorexia and how to treat it

Our public learned about this disease relatively recently - and it came as a real shock. Until now, most people do not understand the full depth of the problem and consider it the result of ordinary stupidity. In fact, it is a nervous disease that, without timely and proper treatment, leads to death.

Anorexia nervosa

The word "anorexia" literally means "lack of appetite." Moreover, the patient does not just “eat poorly” - he avoids food as something dangerous, extremely harmful. The goal of this behavior is weight loss, loss of body fat. And the ultimate goal of an anorexic is beauty.

Here it should be clarified that we can trace a similar scenario in hundreds of thousands of completely healthy people who simply take care of their appearance. Many of us periodically go on a diet, limit ourselves in nutrition, trying to lose weight and become more beautiful.

But With anorexia, perception is impaired! The patient is not able to adequately assess his own condition: even with complete exhaustion, he notices “excess weight” on himself and tries to get rid of it. It is easy to feel the difference in the perception of a healthy person and a patient with anorexia: the latter admires himself, rejoices in what he has achieved and makes plans for future weight loss, while those around him, seeing him, experience horror, even disgust.

Since nutrition is the basis of normal functioning of the body, metabolic disorders quickly join the nervous disorder in anorexia. Soon a person’s health is completely undermined: he simply cannot eat normally, vital processes are interrupted or occur pathologically.

The activity of the cardiovascular system is disrupted, hair falls out, the skin loses tone, hormonal regulation is disrupted, and the digestive system stops absorbing food. In women it is disrupted menstrual cycle, reproductive function. At a certain point, these violations become irreversible.

How do people get anorexia?

Who suffers from anorexia

It is wrong to think that this is a purely female disease. Although in most cases, anorexia nervosa occurs in young women - under 24 years of age. But both children and people over 24 years of age, including men, can be susceptible to it.

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

The main cause of the disease is mental instability , which leads to a fixation on the idea of ​​losing weight. This can happen if self-esteem is reduced, a person does not feel the strength to arrange his own life safely, seeks support in external factors, and is highly suggestible.

Then, especially popular today, the idea of ​​​​the equivalence of beauty and harmony can become overvalued (in the pathological sense of this term). Indeed, in modern culture there is a clear connection between success, wealth and a person’s appearance. According to these rules, a woman should be very slim and young (this is one of the reasons why girls get anorexia more often than boys, for whom there are slightly different “ideals”)). Often this image is strengthened and exaggerated. But what is possible on stage, podium, especially in photographs, cannot always be realized in everyday life.

In addition, there are other factors that may predispose to the development of anorexia nervosa. For example, cases of similar disorders in relatives, violence, metabolic disorders of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) and a tendency to depression, and so on. But, strictly speaking, these factors do not cause anorexia itself, but lead precisely to the psychological instability on the basis of which this disease grows.

Signs of developing anorexia

It is difficult for others to recognize anorexia in the initial stages. You need to be aware of a person’s mental movements in order to notice that he is carried away by the idea of ​​losing weight and this passion is pathologically intensifying. That is, he not only decided to lose a couple of kilograms, but he loses control over himself and ceases to adequately perceive his condition.

But, if there is a person next to you from a “risk group” - a young girl whose personality has not yet been formed, whose emotional state is not yet stable - you need to monitor the following:

• Exaggerated attention to appearance - one’s own or ideal images (models, actresses). The girl begins to spend more time in front of the mirror than usual, posing, examining herself. You can notice parallels of comparison with certain ideals - their images can be in plain sight, for example, next to a mirror;
• The desire to lose weight leads to radical decisions and opinions. The girl refuses to eat at all and reports that most foods are very harmful. If she does eat (under family pressure, for example), she can then lock herself in the bathroom or toilet and vomit. Such patients come up with various excuses not to participate in feasts, not to eat with other people;
• Constant attention to your own weight, weighing;
• Denial of nutrition problems - if you assume that the patient does not control his condition, cannot adequately assess his diet and its consequences for the body, you will receive violent rejection in response;
• Depressed state. Violent outbursts of resentment, anger, euphoria are possible, and then again depression;

One of the objective signs that you need to pay attention to is weight loss. Different indices can be used to calculate weight standards. For example, the Quetelet index, which is obtained by dividing body weight (in kilograms) by the square of height (in meters) (60 kg: (1.7m x 1.7m) = 20.8). The norm for the Quetelet index lies between 18.5 and 25. If this index is below 17.5, body weight is insufficient.

Development of anorexia - symptoms

When efforts to lose weight bring tangible results (the patient loses about 20% of weight), anorexia progresses. Instead of relaxing restrictions, a person tightens his diet. Already during this period, disturbances in the functioning of the entire body become noticeable.

Dehydration leads to a sharp deterioration in the condition of hair and skin, bones become more fragile - fractures and joint diseases are possible. The cardiovascular system cannot cope, which is expressed in heart rhythm disturbances and pressure fluctuations. Girls' menstrual cycle stops. Immunity drops critically. And so on.

These symptoms can no longer be ignored. And it is necessary to take urgent measures - start treatment. After all, life in this state is already in mortal danger. And, after a year or, at most, two, the changes become irreversible and we are no longer talking about life, but about prolonging life.

The question is when will it come death and what will cause it is secondary (no matter how scary it may sound!). Much more important is how to preserve life and bring it closer to normal (after all, it will no longer be possible to completely restore health). Even if the patient himself wants to change his fate, he is no longer able to eat normally or gain weight. Constant and very thorough treatment is required.

Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Based on everything said above, it is clear how important it is to start treatment as early as possible. Close people should not turn a blind eye to even the most fleeting suspicions and signs that may indicate the development of anorexia. It is difficult to prevent the occurrence of this severe disorder. But it is almost impossible to cure it. Such a patient will experience psychological and physical difficulties all her life, for example, like people who used drugs.

So, the first and best thing you can do is monitor the development of a teenager's personality . We need to help him overcome his uncertainty and dissatisfaction with himself. Excessive perfectionism and demandingness can also become harbingers of anorexia. Therefore, it is important to learn to accept not only victories, but also defeats.

If anorexia nervosa is already in the second stage (weight loss, about 20%) - it is also treated with psychotherapy . Both individual sessions and family sessions and group trainings are conducted.

Medical nutrition , which is prescribed to patients, is designed to normalize metabolism and promote weight gain to normal levels. You need to understand that the body of an anorexic is no longer able to digest any food. Therefore, a diet selected by a doctor is required.

Can be assigned medicines – antidepressants. For example, fluoxetine. It is possible to administer solutions containing vitamins that eliminate dehydration.

You need to understand that anorexia nervosa can recur. In other words, such a patient, after therapy, may experience breakdowns, which will again lead to critical weight loss.

What to do if a loved one has anorexia nervosa

A few tips to help you navigate and do the right thing if you suspect a loved one has this disease:

• Do not try to appeal to the patient’s “reason” and “common sense”! It’s as if he speaks a different language - he doesn’t understand and doesn’t accept your arguments.
• Don't let yourself be convinced! People with anorexia can speak very passionately, logically and defend their opinions with pathos.
• Don't trust everything the patient says and does! In order to achieve “his goals,” a person in such a state is capable of changing his own principles - lying, for example. Even having sincerely promised something, he may not keep his word - the illness often turns out to be stronger. The patient may pretend to agree with you, lulling your vigilance.
• Don't wait for anything - go to the doctor right away! Moreover, you need to immediately go to a psychotherapist. Preferably, to someone who specializes in anorexia. It is better that your fears turn out to be unfounded than that you waste time. Even if you cannot persuade the patient to visit a doctor, go to the appointment yourself and discuss with a specialist what you should do next.

In the article we discuss anorexia. You will learn what this disease is, what symptoms and stages it has. We will tell you what causes the development of this pathology and consider medicinal, psychological and psychiatric methods of treating the disease. By following our advice, you will learn how to prevent it and follow a special diet. Let us highlight the topic of the features of treatment of childhood and adolescent anorexia.

Anorexia is a dangerous disease that often has psychological causes.

Anorexia is a degree of exhaustion of the body, while the patient himself does not recognize the presence of the disease and considers himself to be overly fat. Signs of anorexia include an obsession with losing weight and a fear of gaining weight. Most often, girls and women aged 14 to 25 years are susceptible to this disease.

Nowadays, this pathology is quite common. Most often this is due to a distorted perception of the beauty of the body. In an attempt to become like emaciated fashion models, girls torture themselves with diets.

The danger of the pathology lies in the rapid decrease in body weight. In this case, the body is deprived of the substances necessary for normal functioning, and this in turn leads to disruptions in the functioning of all organs and systems.

The consequences of anorexia include disruptions in the menstrual cycle, arrhythmia, digestive disorders, general weakness of the body, fainting, osteoporosis, weakening and hair loss. In extreme cases, death can occur.

You learned what anorexia is and how dangerous the disease is. Now let's take a closer look at the causes of this pathology.

Causes of anorexia

Depending on the reasons that caused the pathology, several types of the disease are distinguished. One of the most common is anorexia nervosa; it is triggered by psychological or mental disorders.

The second no less common form of the disease is medicinal. This pathology develops as a result of taking special medications that reduce body weight. They act by eliminating the feeling of hunger. At the same time, some of them are addictive, so it can be extremely difficult to stop taking them on your own, which leads to excessive depletion of the body.

Among the reasons for the formation of anorexia is a panicky fear of gaining excess weight. This fear is based on disturbances in the perception of one’s own body, which most often manifest themselves in adolescence, when girls begin to experience hormonal changes and more rounded hips and breasts appear.

Anorexia often develops in children and adolescents when parents force them to eat

In adolescence, the cause of anorexia is often pathological self-doubt and low self-esteem. Against the backdrop of overprotection on the part of the parents, this turns into the impossibility of a calm reaction to any slightest criticism regarding the child’s appearance.

It is often possible to encounter the development of this pathology while expecting a baby. This is due to the fear of gaining excess weight and not returning to previous shape after childbirth.

Anorexia and pregnancy are incompatible concepts. During the period of bearing a child, the body requires a greater amount of nutrients, which, due to pathology, cease to be supplied at all, and the fetus has nowhere to take building material for growth and development.

Anorexia during pregnancy can lead to various pathologies of fetal development. These include gestational diabetes and miscarriage.

You learned what anorexia is and how it appears. Now let's look at the main symptoms and stages of development of the disease.

Symptoms and stages of anorexia

The first signs of how anorexia begins are quite difficult to determine. This is due to the fact that at the initial stage of the disease there is no pronounced thinness, and some signs can be observed in healthy people. However, with a detailed examination and careful attention to a loved one, you can notice changes in behavior.

There are behavioral and physiological symptoms of anorexia. And if physiological ones appear in later stages of the disease, then changes in behavior can be noticed immediately.

A person suffering from degree 1 anorexia first of all begins to express dissatisfaction with his own appearance, in particular his figure and weight. Such people begin to get carried away with all kinds of diets, regardless of their health status, they can strictly limit themselves in food, and cause vomiting after eating.

Physical signs of anorexia in women include irregularities in the menstrual cycle, up to the complete cessation of menstruation. Digestive system disorders appear: bloating, pain, intestinal obstruction.

At stage 1 of anorexia, weight loss begins. Along with this, dizziness, a sharp deterioration in well-being and loss of strength appear. A loss of 20% of the total weight is an alarming signal and an indication for immediate medical attention.

You can only tell at what weight anorexia begins by calculating your body mass index. This indicator is individual for everyone. To determine it, it is necessary to divide the patient’s weight by the squared height in meters. The resulting numerical indicator should not go beyond 18.5 to 25 units. Modern medicine has established a critical BMI of 17.5 - this is the threshold for the development of anorexia. Look at the weight and height ratio in the table for anorexia.

Healthy conditionheight (m)/weight (kg)	Anorexiaheight (m)/weight (kg)
1,55/53	150/34
1,58/54	153/35
160/56	154/36
163/58	155/37
165/60	158/38
168/62	160/40
170/64	163/41
173/65	165/42
175/67	168/43
178/69	170/44

There are 4 stages of anorexia. They develop gradually, following one after another. Let's take a closer look at them.

Typically, the first stage of anorexia lasts from 2 to 4 years. This preparatory period is characterized by the formation of a critical opinion regarding one’s appearance. In this case, the positive opinion of others is not taken into account, but a carelessly expressed remark or criticism is perceived quite painfully and can serve as an impetus for the transition to the second stage of the disease.

If at the initial stage of anorexia the patient only has thoughts about improving his appearance, in particular his figure, then starting from the second stage he begins to take active action. A passion for dieting and strict restriction of food appears.

With degree 2 anorexia, visible and quite significant weight loss occurs - from 20% of the total body weight. This entails hormonal imbalances and disruption of the functioning of most organs and systems.

The cachectic stage or grade 3 anorexia is characterized by a worsening of the patient’s condition. At this time, somatohormonal disorders predominate: menstrual flow stops, the subcutaneous fat layer disappears, and degenerative conditions of the skin and muscles form.

With stage 3 anorexia, the heartbeat slows down, the pulse becomes weak, blood circulation is impaired and blood pressure decreases. The patient is constantly freezing, and the skin becomes bluish.

At the same time, the condition of hair, nails and teeth deteriorates significantly. They become more brittle and lifeless, bleeding and sore gums appear.

At this stage of the disease, medical intervention is necessary. It is impossible to cope with anorexia on your own without psychological help and medications.

The last stage of the disease is characterized by the return of obsessive thoughts regarding one’s appearance. Since after treatment the weight begins to return to normal, panic states appear about excess body weight. The last stage of anorexia can last up to 2 years. All this time the patient must be under close supervision, otherwise he will go on another hunger strike.

Depending on the stage of the disease, constant weight loss occurs. Look at the relationship between weight loss and stages of anorexia in the table.

Stages of anorexia	Weight loss from body weight	BMI		Health Risk
1	from 5%	less than 18.5		absent
2	from 10%	less than 17.5		high
3	from 20%	less than 16		very tall
4	from 50%	less than 14		critical

You learned the stages, symptoms and causes of anorexia. Now we will talk about methods of drug, psychological and psychiatric treatment of the disease.

Anorexia Treatment Methods

The success of treating anorexia lies in an integrated approach and the patient’s desire to recover. To return a person to his usual way of life, it is necessary not only to restore the functioning of all organs and systems of the body, but also to normalize and adapt his mental state.

Therefore, to the question - which doctor treats anorexia, one can definitely answer that consultation with many highly specialized specialists, including psychologists and psychiatrists, will be required. Let's consider individual methods of treating pathology.

Drug therapy

Before treating anorexia with drug therapy, a consultation with a therapist is necessary. As a rule, doctors are faced with the task of restoring the functioning of the digestive system, normalizing metabolic processes in the body and heart function, and gradually increasing body weight, preventing the development of dystrophy.

At the initial stage, the patient must remain in bed. Most often, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting, but sometimes, when the risk to life is not confirmed, the patient may be transferred to home care. Your doctor will also tell you how to treat anorexia at home.

At first, the patient requires constant supervision. To restore appetite and help digest food, the patient is administered insulin-containing medications. The doctor may also prescribe a glucose solution to restore strength.

To normalize eating behavior, Frenolone is prescribed. Berpamin and Polyamine will help restore water-salt balance and metabolic processes. For comprehensive treatment and relief of the condition, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants: Zoloft, Eglonin, Coaxin.

You have learned how to treat anorexia with drug therapy. Let's consider the importance of psychological intervention in the recovery process.

Psychological treatment

Psychological treatment for anorexia consists of adjusting the perception of one’s own body, accepting oneself as an individual and social adaptation after therapy. The moment of accepting the problem and the desire to get rid of it is important.

A psychologist first conducts a test for anorexia, thereby determining the main cause of the disease. Loved ones play an important role in recovery and can either help or hinder therapy.

Thanks to the competent work of psychologists, behavioral habits are adjusted and a normal reaction to one’s own body and weight in particular is formed. Classes with a specialist are conducted both individually and in a group of patients with similar problems.

Psychiatric treatment

If anorexia develops against the background of severe mental illness, the intervention of a psychiatrist will be required. For example, schizophrenia, depressive and obsessive-compulsive disorders cannot be avoided without it.

Methods of group, family and individual psychotherapy are used to treat anorexia. If necessary, the doctor intensifies drug treatment, adding tranquilizers and antipsychotics to the list. Sometimes hypnosis is used.

Diet for anorexia

Nutrition is an important part of rehabilitation for anorexia.

For faster recovery from anorexia, it is necessary to maintain a special diet. It must be carefully calculated and balanced in order to help the body restore strength as quickly as possible, without placing excessive stress on weakened organs.

To determine the appropriate menu, it is necessary to conduct bioimpedance measurements. This study will assess deviations from normal body weight, muscle tissue and the degree of dehydration. Based on the data obtained, the nutritionist creates a suitable menu.

Food is introduced into the patient’s diet in small portions. As a rule, the patient should eat at least 5 times during the day. At the same time, it is equally important to drink enough clean water - at least 1.5-2 liters per day.

Features of the treatment of childhood and adolescent anorexia

Most often, adolescents with fragile psyches are at risk of developing anorexia. The child’s inability to calmly respond to stress, problems and criticism leads to lack of self-acceptance and, as a result, to an attempt to change his appearance, in particular his weight.

Parents and close relatives play an important role in the development of anorexia and recovery from the disease. If a child grows up in an atmosphere of constant criticism and misunderstanding, then in the form of a subconscious protest he may begin to try to change the attitude towards him by changing his appearance.

Attention to changes in a child’s behavior on the part of adults can eliminate the very cause of the formation of pathology. In this regard, it is especially important for adolescents to maintain trusting relationships with their parents.

A child in adolescence needs support and understanding, even if he denies it. Therefore, parents should be extremely careful about children who are in any way trying to artificially influence their own appearance. The sooner you pay attention, the less likely it is that the disease will develop into a serious pathology that will require specialized treatment.

Is it possible to fully recover from anorexia?

Doctors' opinions regarding the possibility of full recovery from anorexia are divided. Some believe that with effective psychotherapeutic treatment, complete recovery from the disease is possible.

Others argue that this pathology is a cyclically arranged disease, in which stages of remission are replaced by relapses. In this case, a person can lead a normal life for several years, but eventually return to a sick state.

Prevention methods

In order to prevent anorexia, attention should be paid to the child’s nutrition from an early age. Never force feed or overfeed children. This can lead to excess weight gain and, as a result, dissatisfaction with one’s own body and a whole bunch of psychological disorders. Meals should be balanced and contain fruits and vegetables.

The formation of anorexia is greatly influenced by the atmosphere in the family in which the child grows up. If at home he finds constant support, care and words of love, then he will feel much more confident.

If your child is gaining excess weight, try to talk to him about it as carefully and tactfully as possible and offer your help. Do not leave children alone with this problem, otherwise it will develop into anorexia.

For prevention purposes, you should undergo annual medical examinations with a therapist (pediatrician), endocrinologist and gastroenterologist. Most educational institutions employ psychologists. It would be a good idea to contact them for advice on assessing your child’s behavior and timely warning of any deviations.

If you notice the first symptoms of the disease, do not delay your visit to a specialist. The sooner you see a doctor, the greater the chance of getting just psychological support without medications.

For more information about anorexia, watch the video:

What to remember

1. Most often, adolescents with fragile psyches and women under the age of 25 who are dissatisfied with their appearance are at risk of developing anorexia.
2. Symptoms of anorexia in women are most clearly manifested in disruptions of the menstrual cycle, up to the complete cessation of menstruation. Digestive system disorders appear: bloating, pain, intestinal obstruction, weight loss and weakening of the body.
3. The success of treating anorexia lies in an integrated approach and the patient’s desire to recover. Treatment includes medication, psychological and psychiatric treatment.

A syndrome that implies a complete lack of appetite in a person despite the fact that his body needs nutrition is called anorexia. This condition may be accompanied by disorders of digestion, metabolic processes, the nervous system and other organs.

According to statistics, about 20% of people with anorexia die. Death with anorexia occurs due to changes in the internal organs of a person with severe exhaustion. But more than half of the patients take their own lives. Basically, these are young girls working in the fashion industry.

The disease can be recognized by the following signs:

1. A person's weight is less than normal.
2. Fear of weight gain, which sometimes causes a person to behave absurdly during meals. Thus, patients can even count the number of grains of rice in their plate.
3. Weigh yourself frequently throughout the day.
4. Counting calories and other rituals related to weight loss take up all my free time. A person constantly limits himself in food.
5. Dissatisfaction with one's weight and obvious thinness.
6. Use of emetics or laxatives.
7. Frequent training, despite weakness.
8. Refusal of meat and fatty foods, gradual transition to fruits and vegetables.

In addition to the main symptoms of the disease, a person suffers from the following disorders:

• sleep disorder;
• general weakness;
• muscle spasms;
• the patient’s muscles become flabby and atrophy;
• pigment spots on the skin;
• sunken eyes;
• sunken stomach;
• tooth loss;
• dry hair;
• pallor;
• Bad mood;
• low blood pressure;
• menstrual irregularities in women;
• fainting and dizziness;
• vomiting, nausea and stomach pain.

The disease develops gradually. First, a person who is dissatisfied with his reflection in the mirror becomes convinced that he is overweight. Then he tries to lose weight by any means, even refusing to eat.

When the first results in weight loss are achieved, a person feels light and elated, which makes the negative consequences of disorders, such as brittle nails, dull skin and dry hair, invisible.

In addition to the fact that the patient limits food intake, he begins to actively engage in physical activity. This quickly exhausts the body. If the process lasts about a year, then the person already looks haggard. The patient needs urgent medical attention.

Causes of anorexia

The causes of anorexia can be both psychological disorders and the effects of medications.

As for psychological disorders, the following factors can trigger the development of the disease:

One of the main causes of anorexia nervosa is a lack of acceptance of one's body. Girls in adolescence are increasingly prone to this. The second reason is a conflict with parents, strained relationships in the family, resentment and careless statements about the child’s appearance. All this pushes the teenager to take drastic measures.

Anorexia can be triggered by taking medications. This pathology involves the loss of the feeling of hunger, and this can happen either intentionally or as a result of treatment for a disease.

If we are talking about deliberately muffling the feeling of hunger, then this is achieved by taking certain medications. Anorexia can be triggered by taking antidepressants or other stimulants.

Consequences of the disease

The consequences of this disease can be severe. Up to 20% of people with anorexia eventually die, making it the most fatal illness among mental illnesses.

First of all, human bones suffer from exhaustion. The fact is that the syndrome often develops in adolescence, when the bones have not yet fully formed. They may not be able to support body weight in the future if the person gains weight.

The most dangerous consequence of the disease is disruption of the heart.

Due to starvation, muscles atrophy, and the heart suffers from this. Blood pressure decreases and pulse weakens. Such changes can trigger cardiac arrest.

When the body does not have enough glucose, energy reserves are depleted. Subsequently, the body has to look for other sources of energy. Inside a person, these are proteins and fats, which the body begins to feed on. This leads to the formation of a lot of ammonia and acetone during the breakdown of protein and fat cells. They poison the human body.

In addition, as a result of fasting, cortisol is produced - a stress hormone. Not only the nervous system, but also the immune forces are on the verge. The patient's body can no longer fight viruses or bacteria.

Treatment of anorexia

In order to cure anorexia, it is necessary to use complex therapy.

It includes:

• taking medications;
• nutrition correction;
• psychotherapy.

In this case, pharmacology is an additional method of treating anorexia. Medicines are used to correct mental disorders and also to increase appetite. Some prescriptions imply the exclusion of relapses of the disease.

Early stages of the disease are usually treated on an outpatient basis. As for advanced stages, such a patient is hospitalized.

First of all, helping the patient is to restore his normal body weight and normalize metabolic processes.

In a hospital setting, patients must follow a diet, for which they are encouraged to go for walks and meet with relatives. This technique is quite effective, but it may not lead to a positive result if the case of the disease is severe.

The following medications may be prescribed to treat anorexia:

• neuroleptics;
• antidepressants;
• drugs that improve appetite (Frenolone, Elenium);
• soothing;
• vitamin complexes that include calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

Normalizing weight requires a gradual increase in food intake. Nutrition programs have been developed specifically for this purpose to help cope with the problem without harming the digestive system.

In the early stages of the disease, patients are prescribed psychotherapy. Conversations with a psychologist allow a person to treat himself as an individual and not pay too much attention to his weight. There is a reassessment of life priorities and ideals.

Some patients require the help of a psychotherapist in order to improve family relationships. This is one of the types of therapy that allows you to cure anorexia completely in the early stages or speed up the recovery process if the disease is advanced.

Treatment of illness at home

Treatment of anorexia with traditional methods involves the use of herbal decoctions. The main task is to stimulate appetite and calm the patient’s nervous system.

To do this, use the following means:

• nettle decoction;
• dandelion roots;
• tea with lemon balm or mint;
• decoction of rowan fruits.

At home, treatment of anorexia involves not only dietary nutrition. In addition, the support of loved ones is important for the patient. It consists of communicating with the patient every day, helping him to understand the problem and the need for recovery.

It is necessary not only to control the patient’s behavior, but also to find common activities that will help distract from negative thoughts. To get completely healthy, it is important to eat right for several months. Any fasting days to correct your shape or refusal to eat can be harmful and even aggravate the disease.

Recovery period

To restore the body after anorexia, you should stay in bed. The body is greatly weakened by exhaustion, so it needs rest. The recovery period will last as long as the body weakens, and temporary relief can be deceptive.

You should not neglect nutrition during recovery. During this period, you need to eat more often, up to 6 times a day, and eat high-calorie foods. If you follow all the doctor’s instructions, you can gain up to 3 kilograms within a month.

Many patients are assigned to groups that provide psychological assistance. Such support helps to cope not only with the consequences of the disease, but also with its causes, which is very important for preventing a relapse of the disease.

During the recovery period, the main task is to learn how to treat your body and nutrition correctly. It is also important to learn to perceive your appearance.

In many ways, the results depend on the behavior of the relatives who surround the patient. Therefore, for a successful recovery, they should also receive consultation from a psychologist in order to behave correctly with the patient in the future.

The nuances of treating anorexia in adolescents

In order to help the child cope with the problem, parents should adhere to the following recommendations:

• Be a role model for your child by adhering to a healthy lifestyle;
• maintain your figure through sports;
• do not criticize the child’s appearance and your own;
• get advice from a psychologist;
• do not intimidate the child or show anger towards him;
• increase his self-esteem.

Having noticed the first signs of anorexia in a child, parents should immediately seek help from a doctor. Manifestations such as weight loss, as well as refusal of food that the child previously ate with pleasure should be alarming. Teenagers may refuse to eat, citing a lack of appetite or the fact that they had previously eaten a lot.

If a teenager is very concerned about diets and criticizes his body, then this should also alert parents. He may react sharply to comments about food or criticism.

How to avoid relapse

To avoid relapse of the disease, the patient should adhere to the following rules:

• take medications in accordance with your doctor’s recommendations;
• do not follow diets, but adhere to the principles of proper nutrition;
• eat small portions and eat frequently;
• do not watch fashion shows and do not compare yourself with models;
• pamper yourself not with food, but with other pleasant things;
• communicate with loved ones;
• avoid stress;
• do what you love.

Conclusion

Since doctors still cannot name the exact causes of anorexia, it is considered a complex problem. By going on a hunger strike, a person does not even suspect what harm he is causing to his body.

Depending on how long the fast lasts, girls may experience metabolic disorders, problems with the kidneys, skin, and liver. In the future, it becomes extremely difficult to restore the body.

We bring to your attention a video in which a case of recovery from anorexia is analyzed using a specific example:

In the last decade, anorexia has become a new fashion for modern youth. The idea of ​​an ideal figure has been formed in the minds of millions of people thanks to photographs of skinny models in glossy magazines.

Girls in the age category from 12 to 18, less often up to 25 years old, are especially susceptible to this influence. To meet the ideal, they torture themselves with diets and refuse food, every day getting closer to their goal. And at one point they can no longer stop.

Frequent victims of this debilitating disease are models and stars. For example, the French actress and model Isabelle Caro suffered from this disease from the age of 13. She became famous all over the world after participating in the “No Anorexia” advertising campaign.

Social advertising promoted a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent the death of many girls who drive themselves to exhaustion. The publication of a photo of a model suffering from this terrible disease caused a public outcry and numerous discussions in the press.

The fashion for anorexia is gaining momentum and has reached epidemic proportions. Girls unite in communities, promote exhaustion of the body as a way of existence, without realizing the consequences. Perhaps they were not explained that this disease is very serious and this is not a game at all, but a long road to the cemetery.

Anorexia concept

Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disease that is accompanied by a disorder in food consumption. This disease is characterized by intense weight loss associated with an uncontrollable fear of obesity, a distorted idea of ​​one’s own appearance, which leads to profound disturbances in the body’s metabolic processes.

Girls who are not happy with their figure and are on the verge of illness are terrified of getting fat; even a glass of water can threaten their “ideal” figure. Patients with anorexia can be compared to alcoholics and drug addicts - none of them realize the severity of the disease and its consequences.

As a rule, women are more likely to think about the need to lose excess weight than men. According to statistics, 1% of women and 0.2% of men suffer from anorexia. According to medical data, 40% of patients recover, 30% experience improvement, 24% have a chronic disease, and 6% die.

Causes of anorexia

One of the main social informants in many countries around the world is the media. Television, glossy magazines, cinema, advertising, and the Internet are the main sources of fashion for thinness and stereotypes about the ideal figure.

Teenagers are susceptible to the information they receive, which leads to a distorted vision of the world. As a result, dissatisfaction with one's own body appears, concerns about weight and, as a result, anorexia nervosa develops.

Girls who frequently read glamorous fashion magazines, articles about diets and weight loss-related issues are six times more likely to engage in weight loss practices and seven times more likely to engage in extreme unhealthy weight control.

Women who frequently view photos of models have a decreased self-esteem, which increases the likelihood of wanting to improve themselves through exercise and various diets.

One of the psychological reasons for the development of anorexia is lack of self-acceptance. Most often, this is typical for teenage girls aged 12–16 years. They begin to worry about their appearance. The desire to please boys, to be accepted in the company of more beautiful friends, to become a model, and so on, pushes teenagers to take drastic measures.

The second reason is non-acceptance of parents. A protracted conflict with the mother or father, psychological pressure, hidden resentment, careless statements about appearance cause complexes and self-doubt in the child. As a result, the development of anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia begins gradually. Dissatisfaction with one's own reflection in the mirror gradually develops into a persistent belief that one is overweight. Thoughts arise about the need to correct the figure and fight extra pounds. Patients with anorexia choose several methods to combat obesity: they refuse to eat, try to cleanse the body of food (induce vomiting, take laxatives, give an enema).

At first, when the first positive result is achieved, the mood improves, a feeling of lightness and a feeling of fitness comes. Negative changes and signs of anorexia in the body are not noticed - hair loss and dullness, peeling skin, sallow complexion, thin brittle nails.

Then, active physical activity is added to the persistent restriction of food intake. The already exhausted body becomes even more exhausted. Pathological fatigue and drowsiness occur.

After just 1-1.5 years of active weight loss, patients look exhausted, with haggard features and sunken eyes. If you do not seek medical help at this stage of the development of anorexia, the likelihood of death reaches a maximum.

Symptoms of anorexia

The most obvious sign of anorexia is critical weight loss, close to exhaustion. Initially, anorexics refuse to eat, citing satiety or malaise. At the same time, they can talk for hours about food, caloric content of foods and diets - food completely covers all thoughts. Further - more. Weakness, fatigue, and possible fainting appear. They are constantly cold - due to lack of energy, the body cannot warm up.

Patients with anorexia are characterized by hostility, depression, secrecy, and increased anxiety. The body tries to make up for the lack of vitamins and minerals from secondary organs, as a result - dull hair, brittle nails, gray skin tone, puffy face.

As a result of fasting, women develop amenorrhea - the absence of three consecutive menstrual cycles, and childbearing becomes an acute problem for them. With low weight, early menopause may occur.

Anorexics often deny that they have any eating disorders. And attempts by relatives to feed the patient cause a violent reaction from him.

Anorexia in adolescents

Children cannot be aware of their actions and do not understand what is happening to them. However, they believe that with every kilogram they lose, they become more and more beautiful. And suddenly they realize that they can no longer stop. This is the result of psychological abnormalities. This is anorexia in full bloom.

Teenagers begin to share portions, avoid family dinners together, and feed their portions to younger brothers and sisters and animals. Having become more sophisticated about the reasons for refusing food, they begin to lie about everything else.

Parents should know their child's habits and be wary of changes in behavior. It is important to talk with your children, explain to them what beauty, healthy eating, healthy habits are. At the same time, be careful, since excessive edification and imposing your own criteria on a child can have the opposite effect.

It is necessary to listen to your child’s ideas about beauty, about the world, what he dreams of and what he strives for. And from this, draw appropriate conclusions and make small adjustments so that the child cannot bring himself to a state of anorexia. Before an important conversation, it is better for parents to talk to specialists who can help give advice. How to conduct a conversation correctly and not get lost in emotions.

First of all, parents need to pay attention to themselves - whether they are eating right and playing sports. Encourage children to do things together. Show that you don’t have to give up food if you want to lose weight. You can go to the gym, go for a run, visit the pool. Offer alternative options, without compromising your psyche and health.

Often children say that they are not accepted in the team, they have no friends. In this situation, parents can organize some kind of party or event to bring them closer to their peers and create communication for the child.

Today, the problem of anorexia is growing. If a teenager is in a state of endless mood swings, irritability and lack of acceptance of the world around him, himself, his life and everyone around him, parents must assess the situation and take some action. When the first warning signs appear, it is necessary to urgently contact specialists, in particular a psychologist. Help will come!

Diagnosis of anorexia

The initial diagnosis should be made by a competent healthcare professional. There are a number of diseases, such as viral infections, hormonal imbalances, and brain tumors, that can mimic psychiatric disorders, including anorexia nervosa.

The psychiatrist conducts a preliminary conversation with the patient, during which he draws attention to the following aspects:

1. the patient’s body weight is constantly decreasing and reaches a level 15% below ideal weight;
2. weight loss is provoked by the patient himself by refusing to eat;
3. obsession with losing excess weight due to a distorted perception of one’s own body;
4. amenorrhea in women.

Clinical studies when diagnosing anorexia are necessary to determine the extent of damage to internal organs due to fasting. These include a general analysis of urine and blood, an analysis for the presence of antibodies to viruses and bacteria, specific tests for the quality of functioning of the liver and kidneys, a test for glucose tolerance, the presence of nitrogen in urea and blood, ultrasound of internal organs and others.

To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to analyze the obtained clinical and psychological data. Comorbidities may influence the severity of eating disorder symptoms.

For example, distinguishing between the diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and eating disorder without additional abnormalities is often difficult to make because there is symptom overlap between patients. It would seem that minor changes in the general behavior of the patient can change the diagnosis.

Treatment

Anorexia is not easy to get rid of. This is a psychological disease that torments its victim even in sleep. Patients cease to control their feelings and actions, their own fears drive them into a corner and doom them to loneliness. Anorexia is a terrible disease that can take years to cure.

Denial of the disease in anorexics delays the visit to the doctor, so relatives have to force the patient to see a psychotherapist. Since the disease is psychological, clinics are developing behavioral therapy programs, combining them with other types of psychological assistance.

First, the physical condition of the body is restored. If an anorexic person is admitted to the hospital in critical condition, nutrition is provided through an IV to stabilize the condition. When the crisis passes, the patient is gradually introduced to food.

First, give food in small portions, monitor the patient for 2 hours after eating so that he does not vomit. If an anorexic refuses to eat, he is offered special mixtures. Patients usually do not object to drinking liquids or liquid foods.

People suffering from anorexia have extremely high blood levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which signals the physiological desire to consume food. A high level of ghrelin suggests that the body's hunger urge has been suppressed and ignored. However, one small, simple study found that administering intravenous ghrelin to patients with anorexia increased their food intake by 12 to 36%.

After normalization of nutrition and gradual weight gain, doctors move on to treating the patient’s psychological state. Depending on the patient’s condition, he may be prescribed antidepressants that help relieve anxiety and fear and improve his mood.

It is important not to focus the patient's attention on food. Force-feeding and a strict regime can backfire. Some experts suggest using the so-called reward method.

A kind of contract is concluded with the patient - for a certain weight gain per day, he receives some kind of reward (for example, he is allowed to leave the ward for a while). If the patient does not gain weight, the conditions are reviewed. It is important that the choice of the desired reward remains with the patient.

To stabilize the psychological state of a patient with anorexia, psychoanalysis is used. As a result of psychoanalytic treatment, the underlying reasons for refusal to eat are revealed. The task of the psychotherapist is to help the patient get to the bottom of the reasons for his refusal to eat and jointly develop ways to solve the problem. Communication with the patient is aimed at changing his self-perception and eradicating psychological deviations.

Good results are obtained by keeping daily records indicating the amount of food taken, the type of food eaten, the time of absorption of food and a description of the environment in which the food was taken.

Family psychotherapy brings positive results. Most often used when the patient is under 18 years of age. In this case, family therapy is more successful than individual therapy.

In various forms of family therapy and anorexia treatment, parents visit a psychotherapist together with the teenager, or separately. In any case, the main points of such treatment are similar: the family is seen as a resource for treatment; parents are given instructions under which they can take control of their child’s regular nutrition; behavioral programs are being developed to implement adolescent weight gain, etc.

When the child’s nutrition becomes regular and weight is gradually restored, the psychotherapeutic effect expands the area of ​​influence - by searching for problems of interaction in the family, conflicts between fathers and children are resolved. Family therapy allows recovery for 90% of patients with anorexia nervosa.

An unconventional treatment method is yoga. Treatment showed that eating disorder symptoms, including food preoccupation, decreased after each session.

According to studies, relapses of the disease are possible during the first year after the patient returns from inpatient conditions, and occurs in 40% of patients with anorexia. Behavioral as well as pharmacological therapy can be provided to prevent relapse.

Consequences

When a person goes on a hunger strike, he has no idea what harm he is causing to the body. Fasting is not a salvation, but a real killer.

Depending on the severity of the disease and the duration of fasting, various health consequences are possible. Girls who refuse to eat will experience metabolic disorders, problems with the liver, kidneys, skin, hair, and nails. The victim of anorexia will be an organism that will be extremely difficult to restore after such stress.

Glucose is the body's source of energy. During fasting, carbohydrate stores are not replenished, and when glucose runs out, the body begins to look for alternative sources of energy. The available sources within us are proteins and fats.

As a result of the destruction of proteins, a large amount of ammonia is formed in the body of a starving person, including those with anorexia; when fats are destroyed, acetone is formed. The breakdown products of proteins and fats accumulate in the body, and with each “hungry” day, the smell of acetone from the body and from the mouth intensifies. This toxic liquid begins to poison the body.

In “economy” mode, the body produces the stress hormone cartisol - the nervous system is on the verge of breakdown, and the immune system is impaired. Immune strength is so reduced that the body is unable to fight either viruses or bacteria.

With anorexia, the barrier function of the liver decreases. As soon as a person stops consuming food, the liver begins to work twice as hard and produce additional fat as a source of its own energy. Fat accumulates in the liver, as a result of which it increases in size, fatty liver degeneration occurs, which is manifested by nausea, dizziness, and apathy.

The brain, with such a serious illness as anorexia, will remind itself of itself with headaches that can last for a year.

Pain in the right hypochondrium as a result of fatty hepatosis, impaired concentration, weakened memory. Black circles under the eyes, pale skin, dryness and flaking, dull split ends, peeling nails - all this is the result of starvation, lack of vitamins A, D, E.

Decreased potassium levels in the blood lead to cardiac arrhythmias, constipation, muscle damage, fatigue, and even paralysis.

Lack of calcium in the body provokes a decrease in bone mass. This is especially critical for the young, not fully formed body of adolescents. The processes of growth and puberty slow down. In the early stages of treatment, these processes are reversible.

An insufficient amount of nutrients causes blood anemia; as a result of low hemoglobin content, oxygen “starvation” of cells occurs.

The worst consequence is death. Of all mental disorders, anorexia has the highest mortality rate.

Examples of deadly statistics: Anna Caroline Rosten, a Brazilian model, died of anorexia at a young age (21 years old) weighing 39 kg; Uruguayan model Lucel Ramos died of a heart attack at the age of 22; at the time of her death, she weighed 44 kg with a height of 175 cm.

Finally, I would like to say, if you are unhappy with yourself, you think that you have a lot of extra centimeters and kilograms, do not despair.

The best way to correct everything would be to limit flour products and sugar, include various cereals in your diet, more vegetables and, of course, exercise, or simply try to lead an active lifestyle. By going on strict diets, you can either deplete your body to the point of anorexia, or your body will play a very bad joke on you.

Constantly starving, the body will quickly get tired of your bullying and, during the next diet, it will begin to put aside “for later,” that is, into adipose tissue, everything that you eat. And this will cause your weight to double or even triple. So think about whether you need this kind of problem.

The symptoms of anorexia are a set of primary and subsequent signs by which one can recognize the onset of this terrible disease and try to prevent its development.

The standard of female beauty in the modern world is considered to be thin, graceful and slender girls, shining with their beauty on fashion catwalks and on the screens of Hollywood films. It is no wonder that most teenagers, especially the fair sex, with all the fervor of youthful maximalism, strive in everything to be like their famous idols. Therefore, they consciously and purposefully refuse food, go on strict diets and simply starve themselves in order to achieve aristocratic pallor and a physique like that of well-known stars. But such abuse of one’s own body does not pass without a trace; most often it leads to the development of a disease such as anorexia.

What is such a disease? Why does it occur and how does it begin? What are the first signs of the disease and what should you focus on?

Anorexia and its varieties

The name “anorexia” itself is borrowed from the Greek language and literally translates as “no appetite.” It manifests itself in a complete refusal to eat, which leads to rapid weight loss and entails mental disorders and nervous disorders, the main manifestations of which are phobia of obesity, manic desire to lose weight, unreasonable anxiety about weight gain, as well as a false painful perception of one’s physical health. forms.

Approximately eighty percent of anorexia sufferers are teenage girls between twelve and twenty-four years of age. The remaining twenty percent are women and older men.

The worst thing is that this disease leads to very sad consequences and in twenty percent of cases ends in death, the vast majority of which are suicide. Anorexia is considered an occupational disease in models, where it accounts for approximately seventy-two percent of cases. Timely qualified medical care leads to a complete recovery of patients in only forty to fifty percent.

Unfortunately, this disease has become so deeply ingrained in everyday life and has become so widespread among the population that in some countries it is legally prohibited to give jobs to overly thin models or anorexic models with unhealthy thinness.

There are several varieties of this disease.

According to the mechanism of development, anorexia occurs:

• neurotic – when refusal to eat is caused by a strong negative emotional background, pathologically affecting the cerebral cortex;
• neurodynamic – when the decrease and loss of appetite is caused by the impact on the brain of strong non-emotional stimuli, such as severe and intense pain;
• neuropsychiatric - in other words, neurological, nervous, psychogenic anorexia or cachexia, which occurs against the background of a purposeful and conscious refusal to eat and is considered as a severe mental disorder - one of the types of self-destruction, classified in several degrees of severity.

Based on causative factors, anorexia is divided into:

• true anorexia - mental anorexia, in which refusal to eat is caused by severe endocrine, mental or somatic disorders, caused by disturbances in the functioning of the digestive center in the cerebral cortex;
• false anorexia - more similar to nervous one, when refusal to eat is due to a critical attitude towards one’s own appearance, a conviction of one’s own inferiority and imperfection.

Childhood types of anorexia:

• primary – a disease caused by failures and disturbances in the baby’s nutrition;
• secondary – anorexia, provoked by disturbances in the functioning of the digestive organs or any other systems.

Recently, scientists have identified another type of anorexia - senile, when completely healthy elderly people begin to refuse food, become depressed and apathetic, and rapidly lose weight. It turns out that this is due to biological changes in the body caused by an increase in the level of certain hormones. However, senile anorexia is just as dangerous as nervous anorexia - the privilege of the younger generation.

Signs and symptoms of psychological disorder

The initial signs of the disease are most often expressed in:

• the patient’s dissatisfaction with his body, a constant feeling of being full and extra pounds of weight;
• rejection of the patient's serious problems;
• a noticeable reduction in portions, eating food while standing;
• sleep disturbance and insomnia;
• depressive states, increased irritability and sensitivity, sometimes aggressiveness;
• phobias get better;
• manic exercise, with an ever-increasing load;
• refusal of various events where food consumption is planned;
• frequent and long visits to the toilet;
• zealous enthusiasm for various strict diets.

When talking about the symptoms of this disease, they often mean anorexia nervosa, since its true form is only the result of the underlying disease. The symptoms of anorexia are very diverse, and many symptoms appear only at a certain stage of the disease.

The first symptoms to look out for are eating symptoms. These include:

• manic desire to lose weight with normal weight or deficiency;
• fatphobia – fear of being fat;
• regular avoidance of food for various reasons;
• fixating thoughts on calories, weight loss, diet;
• fractional meals, a sharp reduction in the number of usual servings;
• chewing food thoroughly and for a long time;
• avoiding activities that involve eating.

Psychological health symptoms are as follows:

• severe apathy, constant depression and depression;
• inattention and distraction;
• low performance;
• insomnia and restless sleep;
• obsessive thoughts about losing weight, fixation on ways to achieve this;
• denial of one’s own appearance, aversion to weakness, dissatisfaction with the results achieved;
• mental instability;
• feeling of one's own uselessness and uselessness;
• rejection of oneself as a sick person, refusal of treatment;
• denial of an active lifestyle.

Other behavioral changes associated with this disease include:

• desire for heavy physical activity, irritation when it is impossible to achieve set goals;
• preference for baggy, loose clothing over any other, believing that in this way their imperfect body will not be noticeable;
• fanatical beliefs, the defense of which causes anger and aggression;
• the desire for introversion, avoidance of mass gatherings, avoidance of any society;
• easy rapprochement with like-minded people.

Physiological manifestations of anorexia symptoms:

• loss of body weight by thirty percent of normal;
• general weakness, fainting and dizziness, as a result of a strong decrease in blood pressure and poor circulation;
• growth of vellus hair throughout the body, baldness;
• decreased potency and libido;
• menstrual irregularities, up to complete cessation of menstruation, infertility;
• constant feeling of cold, blueness of the fingertips and nose;
• tendency to fractures, increased bone fragility.

With prolonged refusal of food, other external signs appear, which can be divided into separate categories.

Symptoms of anorexia in girls

Girls are more susceptible to this disease than men. It is especially pronounced in teenage girls with their youthful maximalism, manifested in almost everything. Here is how this disease manifests itself in the fair sex:

• sallow complexion, dry and thin skin;
• fragility and painful appearance of hair and nails;
• pronounced thinness of the whole body;
• frequent headaches;
• pain in the epigastric region;
• general weakness and malaise;
• insomnia and sleep disorders;
• dysmenorrhea and amenorrhea leading to infertility;
• dystrophy of internal organs;
• coma and death.

Symptoms of anorexia in men

In men, this disease occurs slightly differently than in women. However, they are also susceptible to this disease to varying degrees.

The main signs of anorexia in the stronger half of humanity:

• calorie counting;
• passion for diets;
• constant weight control;
• passion for strenuous physical exercise;
• tendency towards alcoholism;
• unreasonable aggressiveness;
• decreased potency and sexual desire.

External signs of this disease in men include:

• excessive thinness of the whole body;
• dry and pale skin;
• hair loss;
• irritability and chronic fatigue;
• organic brain lesions.

Symptoms of anorexia in children and adolescents

Anorexia in children is also very common, especially among girls. However, the child’s psyche is not yet fully formed and is more susceptible to influence than the psyche of an adult. Therefore, by identifying the disease in the early stages, parents can help their children get rid of it once and for all.

Signs indicating the presence of anorexia in children are:

• loss of appetite, refusal to eat, complete aversion to any type of food;
• sunken eyes and bruises under them;
• significant weight loss, dry skin;
• increased irritability, insomnia;
• frequent tantrums;
• decline in academic performance.

In adolescents, this disease is characterized by an obsession with losing weight and dissatisfaction with one’s own figure.

Signs of anorexia in teenagers:

• sudden weight loss;
• adherence to strict diets;
• secrecy and depression;
• insomnia or drowsiness;
• excessive physical activity;
• protruding collarbones and ribs;
• yellowish flaky skin;
• dull, brittle hair;
• swollen joints of the hands and feet;
• puffy face and sunken eyes.

Symptoms at different stages of anorexia

This disease has several stages of development, each of which is characterized by the presence of certain symptoms:

1. Dysmorphomanic stage. It is characterized by thoughts about one’s own ugliness and inferiority, aversion to one’s own body due to its apparent fullness. At this stage, there is a feeling of depression and constant anxiety, there is a need to spend a long time near mirrors, the first attempts to refuse food and loss of appetite, the desire for an ideal figure with the help of various strict diets.
2. Anorectic stage. The most characteristic symptoms at this stage include: significant weight loss, a state of euphoria, stricter diets, and excessive physical activity. Hypotension and bradycardia, dry skin, and constant chilliness appear. There is a decrease in libido and potency, cessation of the menstrual cycle in women and spermatogenesis in men. Often at this stage, the functioning of the adrenal glands is disrupted, and tolerance to hunger also occurs.
3. Cachectic stage. The last stage of anorexia is characterized by the following signs: irreversible degeneration of internal organs, weight loss up to 50 percent of the original, protein-free swelling, hypokalemia, metabolic disorders. At this stage, the disease is irreversible.

In conclusion

Anorexia is a severe mental disorder characterized by complete or partial refusal to eat under the influence of various reasons and factors.

It manifests itself to a greater extent in young girls and women, but the risk of developing anorexia in children, men and adolescents cannot be excluded.

The symptoms of the disease are similar to each other and increase as the disease progresses. At the last stage of anorexia, even with qualified medical care, the changes occurring in the body are irreversible and almost always lead to death.