What Is Anorexia?

The media’s portrayal of unrealistic body images and the conventional, regressive beauty standards set by the society at large often manifests in the form of psychological disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa. Individuals who develop this eating disorder restrict their diet to near starvation  to maintain an extremely low body weight relative to their body type and height according to the top psychologists in Pakistan.

Thankfully, the awareness towards this eating disorder is slowly increasing but a lot of people still do not realize that this disorder can be life-threatening. Even though both the genders can be affected by anorexia, 90-95% of the patients diagnosed are females and according to estimates, around 5-20% of individuals suffering from this disorder may die.

Anorexia: A deep rooted psychological concern or just an eating disorder?

Anorexia is a serious mental illness and people suffering from it often take drastic measures such as limiting calorie intake, doing a lot of exercises to burn the calories consumed, as well as bingeing and purging. People affected by this disorder are apprehensive about their image in front of others and often presume themselves to be larger than they actually are. They have a phobia of gaining weight and are often consumed by this fear. That’s why they do not welcome suggestions that urge them to eat more and have a healthy weight.

Some behavioral signs include dieting behaviors such as fasting or cutting out certain foods from your diet, drastic changes in food preferences, obsessive rituals around eating such as eating extremely slowly, lying about eating, hiding foods that was not eaten, becoming antisocial, obsessive behaviors related to weight and body shape such as repeated weighting, excessive exercising, self harm, and intentional misuse of appetite suppressants, diuretics, laxatives, and enemas.

Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia

If you suspect that you have become anorexic, ask yourself some questions such as whether you have recently lost a lot of weight, if you have a low-self esteem, if you have a fear of gaining weight, whether you make excuses not to eat, if you exercise excessively, and if you skin has become dry or yellowish recently. Other symptoms may include disturbance of monthly cycle in females, decreased libido in males, feeling cold even in warm weather, dizziness, bloating, constipation, developing food intolerances, not being able to sleep well, feeling tired, and the appearance of fine hair on the body.

Some risks associated with anorexia are anemia, weak immune system, kidney failure, osteoporosis, heart problems, and even death. That’s why if you or a loved one has been experiencing symptoms related to anorexia, you should consider opting for a treatment as this disorder is treatable. It is important to get help as soon as possible, because if anorexia is left untreated, it may get worse.  Since anorexia is largely a psychological disorder, you can consult a Psychologist to find out if you or your loved one is anorexic. You can find and book an appointment with top Psychologists in Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad through oladoc.com. You can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your health concerns.