A PRODUCTION OF MODèLES
Topics:
What is Anorexia Nervosa?What
are the signs of Anorexia?
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat,
even though underweight.
Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration.)
Types:
Restricting Type: during the current episode
of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating
or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives,
diuretics, or enemas)
Binge-Eating/Purging Type: during the current episode of Anorexia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas)
Treatments
Treatment of anorexia nervosa is difficult, because
people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients
in the early stages of anorexia (less than six months or with just a small
amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be
admitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want
to change and must have family and friends to help them.
People with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexics often need counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or their problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling.