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Recommended: case study of anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent food refusal that leads to dangerously low body weight (Durand & Barlow, 2007). It is also characterized by a morbid fear of gaining weight and losing control over eating. Anorexia most commonly begins in an adolescent who is either overweight or believes themselves to be so they begin a diet. What starts out as a simple diet soon becomes a life-threatening disorder. Dramatic weight loss is achieved through severe caloric restriction or by combining caloric restriction with excessive and severe exercising and/or purging. Anorexia can cause physical complications, emotional and behavioral changes, and can be very difficult to overcome.
Anorexia nervosa causes major physical complications that worsen the longer a person suffers from it. The most common attribute is extreme weight loss (Durand & Barlow, 2007). There are some complications that are not quite as dangerous as others such as, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, hair thinning, and dry skin (Mayo clinic staff, 2012). While not good these symptoms are not life threatening. Other, more dangerous complications can include abnormal blood count, irregular heart rhythms, low blood pressure, dehydration, anemia, bone loss, gastrointestinal problems, and kidney problems. If a person becomes severely malnourished every organ in the body can be damaged, maybe irreversibly. The most severe cases can result in death.
Anorexia nervosa also causes emotional and behavioral characteristics. Some of the emotional changes that can occur include fear of gaining weight, lack of emotion, social withdrawal, irritability, and depressed mood (Mayo clinic staff, 2012). Behavioral changes include refusing to eat, lying about how they ha...

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...ut the people in their lives. Anorexia causes many dangerous side effects, emotional and behavioral changes, and can be very difficult to overcome. Further research needs to be done to discover causes of anorexia in order to help prevent it. The exact causes are as yet unknown (Mayo clinic staff, 2012). It has been theorized that the cause is a combination of environmental, biological, and psychological factors. Anorexia has become a serious issue in today’s youth. This is a disorder that can lead to death if left untreated more needs to be known so that we can prevent and treat anorexia and save lives.

References
Mayo clinic staff. (2012, January 5). Anorexia nervosa. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/basics/causes/con-20033002
Durand. , & Barlow, (2007). Essentials of abnormal psychology. Mason, Ohio: Cengage learning.

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