Anorexia is an eating disorder which causes those affected by the condition to develop an all-consuming obsession with weight and body image. Behavioral patterns revolve predominantly around the overarching goal of weight loss and can result in the subordination of previous interests. With the obsession to lose weight, they only eat or try to avoid a certain type of foods and drinks such as consuming too many sugary drinks to achieve the weight they desire. Although in some cases anorexia in children can prove fatal, early intervention has been shown to reduce the severity of symptoms.     

Types of Anorexia    

There are two types of anorexia.     

• Bulimia Type    

Patients binge on food before purging with laxatives or through self-induced vomiting.      

• Restrictor Type 

Patients place excessive limits on the quantity of food that they consume.     

Causes    

Anorexia’s etiology remains unclear. However, it’s generally accepted that the condition typically starts out as normal dieting and slowly progresses into anorexia. Factors which are thought to influence the condition’s development include;     

• Societal expectations
• Genetic predisposition
• Brain chemical imbalances
• Developmental issues    

Family influences also play a key role. To the extent that a child with a family background of weight problems, physical illness, and mental health issues is at an increased risk of becoming anorexic. Moreover, in cases where families are intransigent and demanding, or interfering and overprotective, the probability of anorexia also rises.         

Who is most at risk?    

Anorexia was a condition which was primarily observed in girls. While girls still comprse the majority of those affected, the gender picture is continually changing. Nowadays an increasing minority of anorexia patients are boys. A similar trend is observable in terms of socioeconomic class. Where once anorexia was exclusively associated with the upper and middle classes, it now affects a broad cross-section of society at large.     

Symptoms    

Symptoms vary from child to child, but can include;    

• Excessively low body weight
• Body dysmorphia
• Overexercising
• Highly ritualized eating behaviors
• An unhealthy obsession with bodyweight
• Depression    

The physical symptoms associated with anorexia closely resemble those of starvation and malnourishment. They can include;    

• Overly dry skin
• Extreme lethargy
• Constipation
• Discolored skin
• Increased sensitivity to low temperatures 

Complications     

Anorexia can potentially lead to a multitude of further health complications. For example, the functioning of the heart and kidneys may be compromised, mild anemia or leukopenia may develop, menstrual periods may stop altogether, or growth hormone levels may drop.     

Treatment    

The precise nature of the treatment that a child will receive depends on a number of factors. Factors which are taken into consideration include;    

• The range of symptoms the child exhibits
• General health
• Overall severity of the condition
• Age    

Typically, however, the treatment of anorexia in children involves a multidisciplinary approach which involves individual therapy and family therapy overlapping with nutritional rehabilitation and with the targeted use of medications.

Have you encountered someone who only eats a certain food? You may immediately jump to the conclusion that they are simply fussy eaters and dismiss them casually. However, this condition called Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (AFRID) may well be associated, in some cases, to Autism and Anxiety disorder. At the rhinoplastyperthcost page you can read more about anxiety disorder and its treatment options.

Many of us have heard of Anorexia or Bulimia, and possibly Binge Eating Disorder. However, there are many disorders that fall below the diagnostic threshold for Anorexia and Bulimia. These are known as Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Previously this was known as Selective eating disorder (SED). People with ARFID will only eat foods that they find acceptable. This may be based on perceived safety, taste, texture, color, or a memory of some previous bad experience connected with the food.

Although people with ARFID may exclude a whole range of food types, they usually maintain a typical bodyweight. If encouraged to eat foods in the group connected with their ARFID, they may become distressed.

What are the causes of ARFID?    

Often there is some sort of Trauma at the root of the condition. They may have choked on a particular food in the past or have seen something that made them see the food as dangerous.

Distressing events in childhood, such as parents divorcing or a house move may trigger a mechanism where selective eating is associated with taking back control.   

Treatment of ARFID  

Adults     

ARFID symptoms can, in some cases gradually reduce and disappear without intervention. However, most cases will be treated by Cognitive Behavior Therapy. There are also ARFID support groups.

Children

Children may undergo a program based on Systematic Desensitization. The four-stage program are 

1. Record: Children keep a log of eating behaviors
2. Reward: Children make a list of foods they might like to try someday. 
3. Relax: Children learn to reduce anxiety and relax. 
4. Review: It is important to review any progress that is made.