what is the mechanism of anorexia?

Question

what happens in the body.. what causes people to have anorexia?

Answer 1

the body starves, i think the causes are the media, poor self image, control issues

Answer 2

What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss. Weight loss is usually 15% below the person's normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight. Weight loss is obtained by many ways. Some of the common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating.

Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.

People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it.

The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running.

Answer 3

There's no external cause to anorexia, if a person has anorexia, this person caused it to him or herself. Anorexia is a mental disorder suffered by men and women (mostly women, because there's a heavy social pressure to be thin) where the person has a distorted self image where he or she sees him/herself heavier (fatter) than he or she actually is, and this distorted image makes the person want, by compulsioin, to lose weight.

They accomplish this by eating less or not eating at all, eating low calorie foods or skipping entire meals, which eventually leads to malnutrition because they're not getting the caloric intake they need for their daily activities and so on.

What happens to the body? Due to lack of food, the body eats off its own tissue, starting with the fatty tissue and then the muscles. Eventually, untreated anorexia will kill the person suffering from it. Famous singer Karen Carpenter from the `970's group "The Carpenters" died from the complications that arose from anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia can easily be treated by a qualified psychiatrist and a proper diet. A good friend of mine who suffered from anorexia and bulimia ended up weighing 85 pounds. She was quickly put in therapy and with a healthy diet with plenty of anti-depressants, xanax and chocolate, reached a healthy 120 and has stayed that way for 6 years, and she's smokin hot.

Answer 4

High Jack has provided the basic information, but people should be aware that there is also a genetic COMPONENT to (primary) anorexia nervosa. It is a multifaceted disorder that requires comprehensive multidimensional assessment that includes a psychiatrist who specialises in eating disorders.

Answer 5

Anorexia is characterized by a loss of appetite or lack of desire to eat.

Description

Anorexia is common in cancer patients with reported incidence between 15% and 40%. Primary anorexia is especially prevalent in patients with advanced malignancy, and is frequently a side effect of cancer treatments. Sometimes, early symptoms may remain undiagnosed, or will be masked by a more generalized wasting of the body from chronic disease, known as cachexia.

When patients experience appetite loss, decreased energy consumption will subsequently lead to weight loss. When inadequate calories are consumed, the body may become weaker and less able to tolerate cancer therapies. As body weight decreases, cachexia sets in, and a general failure to thrive may make it more difficult to fight off illness and infection. A poor response to cancer treatments, reduced quality of life, and death may result from substantial weight loss. The spiraling effect of a patient's reluctance to eat is a source of frequent anxiety for caregivers. Weight loss due to anorexia may be temporary or may continue at a life-threatening pace if the patient continues to consume inadequate energy to sustain bodyweight.

Causes

It is normal for a patient to consume less energy when not as active. It is also natural to lose interest in food when individuals are seriously ill. However, it is essential in anorexic patients to consider whether the loss of appetite is the result of a natural disinterest in eating (primary anorexia), or is due to some reversible cause (secondary anorexia).

Secondary anorexia may be a result of:

* nausea with or without fear of vomiting after food consumption
* fatigue
* constipation
* sores in the mouth or mouth pain
* candidiasis
* unappetizing food or change in food preference due to cancer-related treatments
* depression
* odors in the environment, or heightened sensitivity to odors as a result of cancer-related treatments
* early satiation
* metabolic causes such as hypercalcemia and uremia
* radiation therapy or chemotherapy
* drugs such as antibiotics or drugs that can cause nausea

Answer 6

People with that illness have no self-esteem, they always see themselves as being overweight no matter how thin they may be. They refuse to eat, because they want to be as thin as possible, they are not happy with their bodies. Normally the problem lies elsewhere though, a broken heart, exam failure,problems at home or with relationships, etc...

Answer 7

You know the basics, the person is starving themselves. Once they get past the initial hunger pains. They notice they start losing weight very rapidly this gives them the satisfaction they are looking for and makes them feel good about themselves. this is the trap from there it becomes a spiral of self destruction and instant gratification.

This is very serious behavioral disorder, please get psychological help as soon as possible!

Answer 8

chemicals in the brain and body effected by what your seeing hearing and feeling ...