ANOREXIA

What is anorexia ?

• Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which is characterized by immoderate food restriction and fear of gaining weight. Although they feel hungry, people who suffer from anorexia nervosa permit themselves consume only small quantities of food. These people consume 600-800 calories on average daily. Women are 10 times more vulnerable to anorexia than men.

Symptoms

• Fast and dramatic weight loss• Obsession with the amounts of calories and fat in food stuff• Desire to be on a diet although they are already thin• They cut their food in small pieces and they refuse to eat in front of others,

they hide it or they throw it away.• They try to cause puke to themselves in order to shed the unnecessary calories.• They don’t stand the cold• They suffer from depression and isolation.• Dry skin and dermatitis• Inflammations• Syndrome of Brant (insufficiency of zinc)• Constipation and diarrhea• Dental decay

Causes

• Obstetric complications• Genetical causes(it is said that anorexia is hereditary)• Insufficiency of zinc• Promotion of thinness for the ideal woman by the media• Profession (models and actors are obliged to be thin)

Treatments

• Allowance of zinc supplements• Allowance of dietary advice• Dietary treatment; it is based on the medical

and psychological record of the person• The olanzapine is a medicine which results in

increase in body mass index and reduces the obsession with nutrition

• Family treatment• Alternative medicine(yoga)

Effects

• Anorexia results in people not taking the necessary energy so as their organism functions properly. They suffer from headaches, they get cold easily, have low blood pressure, their nails break easily and their hair fall. Later, damages are caused to the heart, the liver and the kidney. After all, anorexia may cause death.

We should accept ourselves as they are and gain self-confidence and self-esteem.

Kalliopi Manesi Sofia Feizidou

Kostas TzannetosTheo Kiousis