&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Anorexia Nervosa: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Anorexia nervosa&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;mdash;often referred to simply as &lt;strong&gt;anorexia&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;mdash;is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterised by deliberate food restriction, an intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted perception of body weight or shape. It is one of the most medically dangerous psychiatric conditions, carrying the second-highest mortality rate of any mental illness&amp;mdash;surpassed only by opioid-related deaths&amp;mdash;most fatalities associated with anorexia result from cardiac complications or suicide.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;It is vital to understand that anorexia is not a lifestyle choice, a phase, or a matter of willpower. Severe malnutrition causes measurable changes in brain structure and function, which drive and perpetuate disordered behaviours. Recovery requires professional, evidence-based treatment; with the right support, full remission is possible.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What Is Anorexia Nervosa?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Anorexia nervosa is classified as both an eating disorder and a mental health condition. Individuals typically restrict food to a degree that results in a significantly low body weight relative to their personal history, age, and developmental stage.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Important Note:&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Not everyone with anorexia appears visibly underweight. &quot;Atypical anorexia&quot; involves individuals who have lost a dangerous amount of weight but remain within or above a &quot;normal&quot; BMI range. Relying on appearance alone to assess severity is unreliable and potentially harmful.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Clinical Subtypes&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Restrictive Subtype:&lt;/strong&gt; Weight loss is achieved primarily through severe dietary restriction, fasting, or excessive exercise.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Binge-Purge Subtype:&lt;/strong&gt; Periods of binge eating are followed by purging behaviours (e.g., self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives). Unlike bulimia, individuals with this subtype maintain a significantly low body weight.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Symptoms span physical, emotional, and behavioural domains and are often concealed by the individual.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Physical Symptoms&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Malnutrition affects virtually every organ system. Common signs include:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Extreme Fatigue:&lt;/strong&gt; Low energy, dizziness, or fainting upon standing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Hormonal Changes:&lt;/strong&gt; Absent menstrual periods (&lt;strong&gt;amenorrhoea&lt;/strong&gt;) in females or reduced testosterone in males.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Skin and Hair Issues:&lt;/strong&gt; Dry skin, brittle nails, and the growth of fine, downy hair (&lt;strong&gt;lanugo&lt;/strong&gt;) on the body as a response to cold.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cardiac Issues:&lt;/strong&gt; Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) and dangerously low blood pressure.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Gastrointestinal Distress:&lt;/strong&gt; Severe constipation and bloating.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Emotional and Behavioural Symptoms&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Food Rituals:&lt;/strong&gt; Rigid rules around eating, cutting food into tiny pieces, or skipping meals.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Social Withdrawal:&lt;/strong&gt; Avoiding social settings where food is present.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Body Preoccupation:&lt;/strong&gt; Frequent mirror-checking, wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss, and an intense fear of specific &quot;unsafe&quot; foods.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cognitive Effects:&lt;/strong&gt; Irritability, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating due to the brain being &quot;starved&quot; of nutrients.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Causes and Risk Factors&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Anorexia is multifactorial, involving genetic, psychological, and environmental contributors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Genetic Factors:&lt;/strong&gt; Having a first-degree relative with an eating disorder significantly increases risk. Genetic traits such as perfectionism and obsessive-compulsive tendencies are often linked.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Psychological Factors:&lt;/strong&gt; High sensitivity to criticism and a strong need for control.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Environmental Factors:&lt;/strong&gt; Cultural pressures idealising thinness, social media influence, and major life transitions (e.g., bereavement or starting university).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Medical Complications&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Severe malnutrition can lead to irreversible damage:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cardiac Failure:&lt;/strong&gt; Electrolyte imbalances (low potassium) can cause sudden cardiac arrest.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Osteoporosis:&lt;/strong&gt; Significant loss of bone density, which may not be fully reversible even after weight restoration.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Neurological Impairment:&lt;/strong&gt; Shrinkage of brain matter leading to long-term cognitive and emotional struggles.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Treatment Options&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;A multidisciplinary team approach&amp;mdash;involving psychiatrists, dietitians, and specialist nurses&amp;mdash;is the gold standard of care.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Medical Stabilisation: &lt;/strong&gt;The&amp;nbsp;immediate priority is physical stability, often requiring hospitalisation to manage electrolytes and prevent &lt;strong&gt;Refeeding Syndrome&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Psychological Therapies:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CBT-E:&lt;/strong&gt; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy adapted for eating disorders.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;MANTRA:&lt;/strong&gt; Specialist therapy for adults.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Family-Based Treatment (FBT):&lt;/strong&gt; The most effective approach for adolescents.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Nutritional Rehabilitation:&lt;/strong&gt; Working with a dietitian to normalise eating patterns and restore weight safely.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h2&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #ff99cc;&quot;&gt;&lt;strong&gt;When to Seek Help&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;hr /&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: #99ccff;&quot;&gt;Because malnutrition impairs judgement, those with anorexia often do not recognise the severity of their illness. This is a neurological symptom, not stubbornness. Seek medical advice promptly if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one. Early intervention is the single most important factor in a successful recovery.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Anorexia Nervosa: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment Options

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