Eating disorders occur most often in industrialized cultures where there is an
emphasis on thinness
, especially if thinness is linked to success. Magazines, television, and other media have created an unrealistic image of the perfect, successful person.
Is anorexia nervosa culture bound?
Anorexia nervosa is presently considered
a Western culture-bound syndrome
. A cultural focus on dieting and ideals of thinness for women are assumed to be implicated in the disorder.
What factors influence the occurrence of anorexia nervosa?
- Genetics. Changes in specific genes may put certain people at higher risk of anorexia. …
- Dieting and starvation. Dieting is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder. …
- Transitions.
A
limited social network and feelings of seclusion
are hallmarks of anorexia. Many individuals who have anorexia report having fewer friends than normal, fewer social activities to attend and less social support.
Which of the following is characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
These are:
Restriction of food eaten – eating less than the body needs
, which leads to significantly low body weight for the person’s age, sex, and physical health. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat or having ongoing behaviors that stop weight gain, even when already underweight.
Which person is most likely to develop anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia is more common among girls and women than boys and men. Anorexia is also more common among girls and younger women than older women. On average, girls develop anorexia at 16 or 17.
Teen girls between 13 and 19 and young women in
their early 20s are most at risk.
What happens to the body in anorexia nervosa?
Untreated, anorexia nervosa can lead to: Damaged organs, especially the
heart, brain, and kidneys
.
Drop in blood pressure, pulse, and breathing rates
.
Loss of hair
.
What happens to your brain when you have anorexia?
Parts of the brain undergo
structural changes and abnormal activity
during anorexic states. Reduced heart rate, which could deprive the brain of oxygen. Nerve-related conditions including seizures, disordered thinking, and numbness or odd nerve sensations in the hands or feet.
How does anorexia affect the community?
Research has consistently shown that many people living with Anorexia Nervosa report
difficulties with social situations, smaller social networks
, and trouble regulating emotions in some social settings.
When is anorexia nervosa most likely to begin?
The eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, respectively, affect 0.5 percent and 2-3 percent of women over their lifetime. The most common age of onset is
between 12-25
. Although much more common in females, 10 percent of cases detected are in males.
What is the prognosis for anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa has
the highest death rate of any mental illness
. Individuals with anorexia nervosa are five times more likely to die prematurely and 18 times more likely to die of suicide. Anorexia nervosa, like other eating disorders, gets worse the longer it is left untreated.
Which female would be at greatest risk for developing anorexia nervosa?
Therefore,
teenage girls and young women
have the highest risk factor for developing eating disorders based on age. Individuals who have previously shown weight concerns and a preoccupation with weight, have a history of dieting, and display a negative body image all show risk factors for developing eating disorders.
Who is least likely to develop symptoms of anorexia nervosa?
Black people
are less likely to be diagnosed with anorexia than white people but may experience the condition for a longer period of time. Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teenagers to exhibit bulimic behavior, such as binge-eating and purging.
How much do anorexics weigh?
People with anorexia typically weigh
15% or more below the expected weight for their age, sex and height
. Your body mass index (BMI) is calculated by your weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of your height (in metres).
What are three long term effects of anorexia?
- Bone weakening (osteoporosis).
- Anemia.
- Seizures.
- Thyroid problems.
- Lack of vitamins and minerals.
- Low potassium levels in the blood.
- Decrease in white blood cells.
- Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation in females).
Do anorexics live longer?
Somebody with anorexia has
a 5.8-times greater risk of dying early
, compared to healthy individuals with no eating disorders. Bulimia doubles the risk of premature death. Patients diagnosed with anorexia in their 20s have 18 times the risk of death compared to healthy individuals of the same age.
