Anorexia in men: how it manifests itself and is treated. Anorexia: alarming symptoms and help Men anorexia

Anorexia is excessive thinness, which is caused by partial or complete refusal of food in order to reduce body weight. It is believed that this pathology is inherent only in women. But it occurs equally often in both sexes. Male anorexia has some features, it differs in the causes of development and the clinical picture.

Features of male anorexia

Anorexia in men has its own specifics. First of all, this pathology is always the result of another disease or psychological disorder and never occurs on its own. In the fair sex, anorexia is independent.

It is extremely difficult to determine the presence of a disease in a man only by external signs (with the exception of medical specialists). In women, the pathology is pronounced and visible to the naked and unprofessional eye. This difference is due to the fact that the process of losing weight in different sexes occurs in different ways.

Representatives of the stronger sex rarely go to doctors, not considering the pathology dangerous or serious. This misconception often leads to the development of a number of complications. Male anorexia is much more difficult to treat, but this is not a reason to refuse therapy or interrupt it.

Causes

Anorexia in men always develops against the background of psychological experiences or mental disorders. Most often, the occurrence of pathology provokes schizophrenia, psychopathy, neurosis, etc. The disease progresses gradually and proceeds smoothly, so men and the people around them do not notice negative changes.

The following factors increase the risk of developing anorexia in the stronger sex.

hereditary predisposition. The likelihood of pathology is much higher if one of the relatives suffered from the disease.
Constant stress and strong emotional experiences.
Employment in an industry where appearance plays an important role (actor, model, artist, etc.).
Obesity or excess weight in childhood and adolescence, as a result of which the man was often ridiculed and mocked by his peers.
Increased physical activity, which is often inadequate and unbearable for a man.

Symptoms

The main symptom of male anorexia is excessive thinness. The remaining signs can be divided into psychological and physical. The first includes inadequate behavior in relation to food (constant refusal of food, lack of appetite), increased irritability and nervousness. The person becomes secretive and withdrawn, avoids any talk about his diet and tries to leave the room where someone is going to eat.

A man is dissatisfied with his weight and reflection in the mirror, constantly striving to lose a couple more "extra" kilograms. He achieves weight loss by completely refusing food, using a strict diet or inducing vomiting after each meal.

Physical signs appear gradually: the skin turns gray and becomes flabby, the hair falls out, the nails turn yellow, very exfoliate and break. Due to nutritional deficiencies, teeth deteriorate, and often they simply fall out. There is increased weakness and fatigue.

Treatment

The main task of treating male anorexia is to restore proper nutrition and normalize eating behavior. A nutritionist will be able to make a competent diet and help the body return to its usual way of life. But a psychologist or psychotherapist will help to solve the psychological or mental problem of the patient. Such therapy is aimed at restoring peace of mind and eliminating internal problems that led to pathology. The sooner treatment is started, the easier and faster the recovery process will be.

It is extremely important for the patient to feel the support of relatives and friends. They should express understanding and in no case reproach, not condemn. It is good if a man suffering from anorexia eats at the same table with healthy people. In some cases, it is recommended that the patient be placed in a hospital, where he can communicate with patients with similar problems, find like-minded people and support.

Therapy must necessarily include therapeutic measures aimed at eliminating and correcting the physical signs of the disease. It is important to restore the normal functioning of the digestive system and eliminate existing diseases. Most often it is a stomach or duodenal ulcer, problems with the functioning of the liver, kidneys and pancreas. For treatment, a consultation with a gastroenterologist and a complete medical examination (laboratory tests, ultrasound, CT, etc.) are required.

To eliminate nutritional deficiencies and restore healthy bones, skin, hair and nails, multivitamin complexes, minerals and dietary supplements are recommended. To restore immunity, immunostimulating drugs are usually prescribed.

It is rare to see a boy or a man at the doctor's office, specializing in the treatment of bulimia and anorexia. So maybe the stronger sex is simply not susceptible to this "fashionable" disease?

Unfortunately, this is not so. Men, even with ordinary diseases, are reluctant to go to the hospital, and it is even more difficult for them to admit that they are in the grip of a “women's disease”.

Are there differences between female and male anorexia? Doctors say that male anorexia has its own characteristics. Most often, the stronger sex begins to suffer from this disease at a later age. Excess weight can serve as a prerequisite for development.

In pursuit of a normal figure, a person stops noticing the line and falls into the other extreme. Another feature of male anorexia is that it is often a syndrome of other diseases, such as neurosis, psychopathy, and even schizophrenia. In women, anorexia usually occurs as an independent disease.

What can affect the development of male anorexia:

Hereditary predisposition to mental disorders;
Overweight, especially in childhood;
Features of work that requires a beautiful figure (models, artists, etc.);
If a man is actively involved in exhausting sports;
Weak self-esteem and susceptibility to the influence of others. When close people, society actively promote diets, a smart appearance, etc.

Many men before the onset of the disease have underdeveloped muscle mass and vascular system, small stature. The onset of the disease is manifested by a violation of the gastrointestinal tract, appetite disappears, the body does not tolerate certain types of food.

Often the culprits for the development of the disease are parents who overprotect their child from the difficulties of life. Boys are brought up in greenhouse conditions, as a result they become absolutely dependent on loved ones and shift the solution of all their problems to them.

Infantilism does not leave them in adulthood. Such men are usually withdrawn, unsociable, helpless and emotionally cold. All these are signs of the development of schizophrenia. Men consider themselves unbearable and incompetent in all directions. In women, on the contrary, anorexia is accompanied by hysterical actions.

Sometimes men, even with a lack of body weight, convince themselves that they have excessive fullness, and the goal of losing weight becomes a crazy idea. They no longer notice how their body takes on ugly forms. Ways to achieve the "imaginary result" are similar to women's. This is a refusal to eat, excessive physical activity. The induction of vomiting is less pronounced in men than in women.

Refusal to eat is explained by completely ridiculous reasons: cleansing of the soul and body, food is a hindrance to activity, it takes a lot of time and energy. The further the disease develops, the more signs of schizophrenia join it: immersion in oneself, impaired thinking, narrowing of the circle of contacts and interests.

In some cases, anorexia in men manifests itself in the same way as in women, and proceeds as an independent disease. In this case, all external

Male anorexia has some features, it differs in the causes of development and the clinical picture.

Features of male anorexia

Causes

The following factors increase the risk of developing anorexia in the stronger sex.

hereditary predisposition. The likelihood of pathology is much higher if one of the relatives suffered from the disease.
Constant stress and strong emotional experiences.
Employment in an industry where appearance plays an important role (actor, model, artist, etc.).
Obesity or excess weight in childhood and adolescence, as a result of which the man was often ridiculed and mocked by his peers.
Increased physical activity, which is often inadequate and unbearable for a man.

Symptoms

Treatment

In especially difficult cases, which are accompanied by a violation of the psyche and consciousness, antidepressants and tranquilizers are prescribed. Such drugs are used in exceptional cases - only on the recommendation of a doctor, under his careful supervision and in compliance with the prescribed dosage.

This article is posted for educational purposes only and does not constitute scientific material or professional medical advice.

When using materials from the site, the active reference is obligatory.

The information provided on our website should not be used for self-diagnosis and treatment and cannot be a substitute for consulting a doctor. We warn about the presence of contraindications. Specialist consultation is required.

Anorexia

Description:

Anorexia (other Greek α- - without-, non-, ὄρεξις - the urge to eat) is a syndrome consisting in the absence of appetite, hunger, or in a conscious refusal to eat.

Symptoms of Anorexia:

There are the following types of syndrome:

* Mental anorexia (lat. anorexia psychica) - loss of hunger or refusal to eat due to a sharp suppression of appetite in mental illness: depressive and catatonic states, or under the influence of delusional ideas of poisoning, and so on.

* Painful mental anorexia - a painful feeling of weakening, loss of the ability to realize the feeling of hunger.

* Anorexia nervosa (lat. anorexia nervosa) - a weakening or loss of hunger associated with a persistent and not always psychologically understandable desire to lose weight, excessive restriction of food intake. Sometimes it is aggravated by the use of anorexigenic substances that depress appetite. It can cause serious consequences: cachexia, metabolic disorders, etc. During the period of cachexia, patients do not pay attention to their repulsive and frightening appearance, or they are quite satisfied with it. More common in females.

Particularly severe manifestations of this syndrome usually indicate a mental illness, most often schizophrenia.

* Drug anorexia - caused by taking special anorexigenic drugs to reduce body weight, or a side effect of other drugs (antidepressants, psychostimulants, etc.).

Causes of Anorexia:

Diseases that lead to anorexia and weight loss are very numerous:

Anorexia Treatment:

Depends on the underlying disease.

Where to go:

Medications, drugs, tablets for the treatment of Anorexia:

SC Balkan Pharmaceuticals SRL (Balkan Pharmaceuticals) Republic of Moldova

Multivitamins and trace elements.

PHARMATON, SA Switzerland

CJSC FP OBOLENSKOE Russia

LLC "Ozon" Russia

Nycomed Austria GmbH (Nycomed Austria GmbH) Austria

Herbion pakistan, Private limited (Herbion Pakistan, Private Ltd) Pakistan

Vitamins in combination with various substances.

JV LLC "Sperco Ukraine" Ukraine

Other drugs for the treatment of functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

PRO.MED.CS Praha a.s. (PRO.MED.CS, Prague, a.o.) Czech Republic

Pharmland LLC Republic of Belarus

Gastrointestinal motility stimulant - acetylcholine ejection stimulant.

Abbott Laboratories Netherlands

General tonic of plant origin.

Herbion pakistan, Private limited (Herbion Pakistan, Private Ltd) Pakistan

CJSC ZiO-Zdorovye Russia

Bristol-Myers Squibb Comp. (Bristol-Myers Squibb Comp.) USA

Phytopreparation with hepatoprotective and choleretic action,

Himalaya Drug Co. (Himalaya Drag Co.) India

Phytopreparation with hepatoprotective and choleretic action,

Himalaya Drug Co. (Himalaya Drag Co.) India

What causes and what are the symptoms of male anorexia?

Anorexia is a lack of appetite, a complete or partial conscious refusal of food, the purpose of anorexia is to reduce body weight.

90% of the world's population are dissatisfied with their appearance, including their weight. A quarter of patients with anorexia are men, many of them need medical attention, but, as a rule, they do not admit their problems and do not go to doctors. Anorexia nervosa is quite common in show business and among models.

Anorexia in men is a fairly rare disease. Anorexia nervosa appears at a later age than in women. Male anorexia has similar symptoms but is usually caused by mental disorders (schizophrenia, neurosis, psychopathy).

Risk factors

Most often, the symptoms of anorexia nervosa develop in men who have been overweight since childhood;
Anorexia is one of the symptoms of mental illness, men are more likely to suffer from schizophrenia (which has a hereditary predisposition);
Intense physical activity (gymnastics, athletics, figure skating);
Professional requirements (models, artists, actors, stewards);
Fixation of modern culture on the external appearance of a person.

Most often, anorexia nervosa develops in men of small stature, with underdeveloped muscle muscles, with impaired function of the gastrointestinal tract, intolerance to certain foods.

In the family, such men were brought up, as a rule, without a father, in love and care, mother and grandmother tried to protect their beloved boy from life's problems. By nature, men from childhood are closed, uncommunicative, rarely express their emotions, they evaluate themselves as incompetent in many matters, indecisive people, passive.

Usually, psychological problems begin in puberty, when peers laugh at a boy with "chubby cheeks, a tummy and a round booty." Adolescents are very sensitive to any criticism regarding their appearance, especially the opinion of their peers. With age, complexes about their appearance intensify, and many of the boys, having come up with a certain ideal or standard of beauty, try to strive for it, refusing food, they can lose 15-50% of their original weight.

Together with anorexia nervosa, adolescent boys have a syndrome of dysmorphomania (delusional or overvalued ideas of dissatisfaction with their appearance). Adolescents, in addition to their apparent fullness, may suffer from “too protruding ears” or “too long nose”. Over time, all children's complexes and problems intensify and manifest themselves in various neuroses, depressions, hypochondria.

signs

men refuse to eat, sit on low-calorie diets;
after eating they make themselves vomit;
after taking even a small amount of food, they feel heaviness in the stomach and nausea;
engaged in intense training, causing a pronounced physical exhaustion.

Men are less likely than women to vomit after eating, they are more likely to limit themselves in food intake, because “There is no time to eat”, “I work hard, I get tired, I have no time to think about food”, “Food clogs the human body. I need to cleanse myself physically and spiritually.”

At the age of about 40 years and older, especially after suffering a serious illness or stress, a man begins to think about health, life expectancy, reads a lot of special literature: “How to cleanse the liver”, “How to remove toxins from the body”, “Basic principles of a healthy diet ". After reading such literature, many men begin to limit themselves in food, engage in "healing fasting", some become vegetarians or raw foodists. These cleansing techniques do not always lead the human body to cleansing, on the contrary, there is a breakdown in metabolism, exacerbation of chronic diseases or the emergence of new health problems. But, for men who are engaged in "cleansing the body" this is another reason to continue their healing methods in the future.

As the disease progresses, men show signs of mental disorders (a narrowing of the range of interests, a change in thinking, a person is more and more immersed in himself).

If anorexia in men acts as an independent disease, and not as a symptom of schizophrenia, then it has generally recognized manifestations.

Clinical manifestations

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa in men are very diverse, depending on the reasons that caused it.

weight loss;
decrease in skin turgor, subcutaneous fat layer;
hair loss, thin and dry hair, early baldness;
diseases of the gums and teeth;
deterioration in the condition of the nails;
muscle weakness, fatigue, headaches, dizziness;
refusal of food, change in diet.

A man who is sick with anorexia looks emaciated, tired, with an extinct look, with bruises under his eyes, sunken cheeks. Such people constantly monitor their weight, weigh themselves, monitor their waist and hips.

At the beginning of weight loss in patients with anorexia, there may sometimes be a feeling of hunger, but with the progression of the disease, this feeling becomes dull, they have no appetite. Men with anorexia nervosa are afraid of eating food, after eating in the stomach there is an unpleasant feeling of heaviness and discomfort. Over time, vomiting does not need to be artificially induced, it can occur reflexively, with a slight tilt of the torso or by pressing a hand on the epigastric region.

Men with anorexia nervosa themselves come up with a maximum figure for their own weight, even with an existing deficit in body weight, it seems to them that they are very full. The thinness of such anorexic men is sometimes ugly in nature, crazy ideas have formed in the head of such people (as in schizophrenia), which are not amenable to any criticism and logic, it is almost impossible to convince them otherwise. Men with symptoms of anorexia are not active in social activities, they usually do not have a family, lead a closed lifestyle.

Anorexia nervosa can lead to gastritis and enterocolitis.

Lack of appetite and weight loss can be symptoms of depression. At the same time, there is a decrease in mood, apathy, sleep disturbance, pessimism.

People suffering from anorexia develop a panic fear of getting better, they feel guilty after every piece of food eaten, and if they managed to abstain from food during the day, then this is perceived as a small victory over themselves, over their weaknesses. At the onset of the disease, patients with symptoms of anorexia can be active, not feel tired, and play sports.

Some men take laxatives to lose weight, do daily cleansing enemas. All this further leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, deficiency of vitamins and trace elements, a tendency to constipation, a decrease in the tone of the rectal sphincter, inflammatory diseases of the large intestine and rectal prolapse. Anorexic patients can arrange an artificial gastric lavage for themselves by drinking 2-3 liters of water after eating, and then inducing artificial vomiting.

Some anorexics may chew food, then spit it into jars, the whole room may be filled with bags of chewed food.

Some men use passive methods of weight loss and appetite reduction - they smoke a lot, drink appetite suppressants, psychostimulants, use diuretics, drink a lot of black coffee.

Treatment

Men with symptoms of anorexia nervosa rarely seek medical attention. Mostly, male patients with signs of mental illness, or those patients who have brought themselves to an extreme degree of exhaustion - cachexia, are admitted to medical institutions. The purpose of medical care is to improve the general somatic condition, restore water and electrolyte balance, prescribe medications, psychotherapy. Of great importance is the restoration of the function of the gastrointestinal tract of the patient, the gradual increase in the calorie content of food.

All information provided on this site is for reference only and does not constitute a call to action. If you have any symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor. Do not self-medicate or diagnose.

Anorexia. Causes, diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease.

FAQ

The site provides background information. Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible under the supervision of a conscientious physician.

Prevalence of anorexia

Causes of Anorexia Nervosa

The theory is based on the sexual, physical changes that occur during adolescence. Teenage girls are dissatisfied with their appearance (roundness of shapes, growing breasts).

Risk factors in the development of anorexia

Dysfunctions of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) responsible for eating behavior are possible.

The process is more important than the result. Fear of returning to normal eating and a challenge to those who want to force them to eat normally.

Stages of anorexia nervosa

Pre-anorexic - thoughts about their own inferiority, ugliness associated with imaginary fullness appear in it. The mood decreases, the patient is looking for the ideal diet.
Anorexic - constant fasting. Body weight is reduced. Patients feel satisfied and tighten the diet even more.
Cachectic - develops irreversible dystrophy of internal organs. It usually occurs 1.5-2 years after the start of stage 1. Weight loss is more than 50% of ideal body weight.

Symptoms of anorexia

Patients with anorexia refuse to eat with their family and in a public place.

Some patients cannot stop eating. Patients eat

large portions of food at night, and then cause themselves to vomit, take diuretics (diuretics), laxatives to lose body weight.

Girls have fluffy hair on their faces and backs.

Diagnosis of anorexia

Analysis of thyroid hormones: reduced levels of hormones in the blood.

Treatment of anorexia

1. Prevent dystrophy (massive weight loss), as it is irreversible

2. Prevent dehydration (massive loss of water from the body)

3. Restore the balance of electrolytes (Na, Ca, K, Mg) in the blood.

The diet begins with a 500 calorie meal divided into 6 servings, as a sharp increase in calories can lead to an overload of the gastrointestinal tract. It is important not to let the patient spit up after eating. To avoid vomiting resort to the help of medications - often subcutaneous injection of atropine.

In some cases, intravenous injections of 40% glucose solution and insulin in a certain proportion are used.

Gradually increase the calorie content of food. Assign a high-calorie diet 6 times a day.

After the patient has gained 2-3 kilograms, they move on to the next stage.

Family therapy focuses on improving family relationships.

What causes anorexia in teenagers? What are the first signs of the disease?

Dissatisfaction with your body. Teenagers often believe for no reason that they are overweight. Fear of obesity becomes an obsession. This topic comes up all the time in conversations. A teenager studies information about weight loss methods, communicates on forums for losing weight.
Obsessive thoughts about food and counting calories. A teenager chooses only low-calorie and low-fat foods.
Unusual eating behavior:
- use of small plates;
- cutting food into very small pieces;
- swallowing food without chewing;
- hiding food from yourself.
Refusal to eat. Radical diets - on baking soda, on juices, cucumbers.
Weight loss with:
- excessive exercise;
- laxatives or diuretics;
- diet pills, appetite suppressants, fat burners.
Changes in behavior
- secrecy;
- loss of friends;
- drowsiness or insomnia;
- irritability or depression;
- wearing baggy clothes to hide a sharp thinness;
- complaints of a constant feeling of coldness associated with poor circulation; cold hands and feet.
Appearance changes
- sunken eyes;
- puffy face;
- hair grows dull, breaks, falls out;
- the skin is dry, yellowish, scaly;
- nails exfoliate and break;
- growth of vellus hair all over the body;
- protruding ribs, collarbones;
- swollen joints, appearing too large against the background of emaciated arms and legs.
Despite the obvious signs of the disease, the teenager ignores significant thinness and other symptoms of anorexia.
General hormonal disorders. In adolescent girls, they are manifested by a violation of the menstrual cycle and the absence of menstruation for more than 3 months.
Significant weight loss, not associated with disease. There are 2 ways to determine the critical weight.
- Decrease in body weight by 15% of the minimum allowable level, which is found by the formula "growth minus 110". For example, for a girl with a height of 172 cm, the minimum allowable weight is 62 kg. 15% in this case is 9.3 kg. 62-9.3=52.7 kg. If a girl with a height of 172 cm weighs less than 52.7 kg, this is a sign of exhaustion.
- Body mass index less than 17.5. Body mass index - the ratio of weight and height of a person. To calculate it, use the formula I \u003d m / h 2. Where m is body weight in kilograms and h is height in meters. For example, a teenage girl has a weight of 50 kg and a height of 165. Then the calculation of the body mass index will look like this: 50: (1.65x1.65) = 18.3 According to the norms, the threshold level beyond which anorexia is diagnosed has not yet passed.

How to help loved ones with anorexia? Having noticed the first signs of anorexia in adolescents, try to establish contact with the child, so it will be easier for you to persuade him to begin treatment.

Don't be the controlling body. Do not count the calories you eat, but encourage each meal. Prepare diet meals that you choose with a nutritionist or on your own.
Listen without criticizing. Teenagers need support. To recover, he needs to feel that he is not alone, that he is loved and accepted as he is.
Don't criticize the look. Phrases: “What have you done to yourself?! Look what you look like!" can break the fragile bond that has been established between you and the patient. The teenager will lose contact with adequate people and will seek support in the forums for losing weight, where anorexia is considered a "great achievement."
Don't shout or show your anger. Anorexia is a nervous disease often based on self-hatred and inability to control one's emotions. Avoid threats: “if you don’t eat, you will end up in the hospital.” Your anger will only worsen the patient's condition and cause him to refuse treatment.
Avoid family conflicts. Quarrels between parents often crystallize into anorexia in children.
Persuade you to see a specialist. If the exhaustion threshold is not crossed, then there is no need to go to the hospital and it will be enough to consult a psychologist and correct the diet. In extreme cases, you can consult a psychologist yourself, without the knowledge of the patient.

Prevention of anorexia is based on normal self-esteem and a healthy lifestyle. It is better to start it in early childhood.

Don't focus on diets. In a family where the mother is extremely concerned about her appearance, weight loss and diets, the topic of harmony is extremely exaggerated. In this case, the daughter also increases the risk of developing nutritional abnormalities.
Encourage your teen to do daily physical activity. Sports and dancing improve the figure and mood. Physically active people are distinguished by mental health, they tend to objectively evaluate themselves and the surrounding reality. However, among adolescents professionally involved in sports, the percentage of patients with anorexia is very high, which is associated with the installation that being overweight worsens athletic performance.
Build the right relationship with food. Telling a child “you are fat”, “enough eating”, you form a negative attitude towards yourself, which often results in anorexia. You should not praise the child for overeating: "Well done, I ate such a portion as an adult." Do not reward your child with food for good deeds and diligent study. Do not teach to "seize" trouble.
Help your teen lose weight. If the child is really overweight, then support his desire to lose weight. The first task is to explain that it is important not only to lose weight, but also to stay healthy. To do this, you need to adjust the diet and increase physical activity. The ideal pace is considered to be a loss of 0.5-1 kg per month. Proper nutrition and sports should become an integral part of life. But a few kilograms dropped during the diet will quickly return as soon as he switches back to his usual diet.
Teach your child to love himself. Each person is unique and no features of the figure prevent him from succeeding and being happy. Praise your child for their successes and achievements.

Anorexia in adolescents is especially dangerous and quickly leads to malnutrition due to the fact that body fat stores are very small. Therefore, it is so important to seek help from a specialist in a timely manner.

What are the consequences of anorexia?

Violation of the central nervous system associated with malnutrition of the brain
- prostration;
- decrease in working capacity;
- decreased concentration;
- memory impairment;
- family conflicts;
- mood swings;
- social self-isolation - avoids communication;
- alcoholism;
- depression;
- thoughts of self-worthlessness and suicide.
Decreased immunity
- frequent colds, accompanied by purulent complications (otitis media, sinusitis);
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- periodic barley;
- frequent stomatitis.
Osteoporosis. Violation of mineral metabolism leads to the fact that calcium is washed out of the bones and they become brittle. A decrease in bone density leads to the fact that in young girls the bones become like those of 70-year-olds.
- frequent fractures, among which a fracture of the femoral neck is especially dangerous;
- soreness along the spine, attacks of acute pain associated with deformation of the vertebrae are possible;
- stoop, decrease in height by 3 or more cm.
Hypoglycemia. A decrease in the concentration of glucose in the blood below 2.5 mmol / l, caused by starvation, significantly disrupts the functioning of the nervous system. The work of blood vessels worsens and cerebral edema develops. Its manifestations:
- increased agitation, feeling of fear;
- hallucinations;
- convulsions;
- coma.
Hypokalemia. A decrease in the level of potassium ions in the blood in anorexia is associated with the abuse of diuretics. Potassium deficiency leads to disruption of muscle cells.
- fluttering heart, chest pain;
- muscle weakness;
- muscle pain;
- intestinal obstruction;
- paresis and paralysis.
Disorders of the heart, associated with a violation of the contractility of the heart muscle. In severe cases, the development of acute heart failure can be fatal.
- bradycardia - slow heart rate, slow heart rate below 60 beats per minute. Heart rhythm disturbances can cause cardiac arrest;
- low blood pressure, which is accompanied by severe weakness.
Hormonal disorders. Decreased secretion of hormones by the endocrine glands
- the level of stress hormones increases, which is expressed in tantrums and depression;
- the level of female sex hormones decreases - the disappearance of menstruation, infertility;
- the concentration of thyroid hormones that regulate metabolic processes in the body decreases.
Violation of the kidneys. Violation of salt metabolism leads to an increase in the concentration of salts in the urine. As a result, sand and stones form in the kidneys. In parallel, developing dystrophic changes in the renal parenchyma lead to acute renal failure - a sudden disruption of all kidney functions (filtration, secretory and excretory). Without prompt assistance, death is possible.
- the appearance of sand and kidney stones;
- swelling of the face and limbs;
- severe back pain.

Complications of anorexia are reversible only in the initial stages, so as soon as you notice signs of the disease, seek help from a specialist.

How to cure anorexia on your own?

Help to identify the causes of the disease;
Learn to adequately perceive your body and the attitude of others;
Get rid of the fear of food and the fear of gaining weight;
Raise self-esteem.

What is the diet for anorexia?

2. It is worth starting with a small amount of food, gradually increasing portions.

3. A 1400 calorie vegetarian diet that provides a weight gain of 0.3 kg per week. Low-calorie meals last 7-10 days. Then they switch to a higher calorie diet.

4. It is better to start with diluted juices and liquid foods. You can gradually introduce mushy food to avoid unpleasant sensations in the mouth.

5. Meals should be fractional and frequent, 5-6 times a day. This avoids the feeling of fullness in the stomach and the discomfort associated with delayed gastric emptying.

6. Organize a drinking regimen, since patients who abuse laxatives, diuretics or induce vomiting in themselves often suffer from dehydration. However, it must be borne in mind that when the power is resumed, edema may occur.

8. Patients who refuse to eat are given tube feeding when food is introduced through a tube directly into the stomach. Often it is supplemented by intravenous administration of nutrient solutions.

9. The diet is compiled individually, taking into account what products the patient, in his opinion, is able to tolerate. The menu is based on table number 11 according to Pevzner.

To increase appetite, it is recommended to drink a little sour fruit juice before meals, 2 tbsp. l cabbage juice, suck on a slice of lemon, drink an infusion of wormwood or calamus root. Mild spices and herbs are added to dishes, which also improve appetite.

fatty meats and fish - pork, lamb, mackerel;
fatty rich broths;
vegetables containing coarse fiber - eggplant, peas, radishes, spinach;
pickled vegetables and mushrooms;
cream confectionery;
strong coffee.

Why is it said that anorexia is fatal?

The most common causes of death in anorexia are:

extreme exhaustion and dystrophy of internal organs;
violation of the function of vital organs (kidneys, liver);
arrhythmia, which can cause cardiac arrest;
violation of electrolyte metabolism;
secondary infections (pneumonia, tuberculosis) that develop against a background of weakened immunity;
suicide.

How are anorexia and bulimia related?

Patients are dissatisfied with their weight - they consider themselves fat and strive to lose weight;
Hide their behavior from others;
Do not admit that they have deviations;
They do not notice the symptoms of the disease;
Periodically experience acute bouts of hunger;
Unable to stop despite obvious signs of illness;
Abuse laxatives, diuretics, diet pills;
Bring your body to exhaustion;
Resistant to treatment.

In 20% of cases, bulimia develops against the background of anorexia. At the same time, patients refuse to eat, but at least 2 times a week they have bouts of gluttony when they indiscriminately absorb any food. This breakdown is often followed by vomiting. Sometimes they try to get rid of the calories they eat by other methods: intense exercise, laxatives.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy - reveals the reasons that caused deviations in eating behavior;
Behavioral therapy - normalizes the attitude to your body and to food intake.

In some cases, hospitalization may be required.

Significant weight loss;
Metabolic disorders;
Severe depression;
Suicidal tendencies;
Failure of outpatient treatment.

Photos of patients with anorexia

How does anorexia progress in men?

Anorexia in men is often associated with various mental disorders - schizophrenia, neurosis.
Men do not talk about their desire to lose weight. They are more secretive, unlike women who are constantly discussing ways to lose weight.
Men are more purposeful, they firmly adhere to the word given to themselves to refuse certain products. They are less likely to have food breakdowns.
A large percentage of sick men refuse food for ideological reasons. They are supporters of cleansing the body, raw food, veganism, sun-eating or other nutrition systems.
Anorexia affects not only young men who strive to meet the standards of beauty, but also men over 40, who are fond of cleansing the body and various spiritual practices. You can often hear phrases from them that “food is a hindrance to spiritual development”, “refusal of food prolongs life and purifies the spirit”.
Asthenic and schizoid features predominate in the character of patients, in contrast to women, who are characterized by hysterical features.
Crazy ideas about imaginary fullness sometimes serve as a distraction for a man. At the same time, he tends to ignore real physical flaws, sometimes disfiguring his appearance.

Factors that provoke anorexia in men

Raising in an incomplete family in an atmosphere of excessive guardianship on the part of the mother. The boy is afraid that with weight gain he will grow up and lose the love of his relatives. By staying thin, he tries to avoid the responsibilities and hardships of adulthood. Such men continue to live with their parents into adulthood.
Critical statements from others regarding excess weight. This can cause psychological trauma.
Classes in certain sports that require tight control over body weight - sports dancing, ballet, running, jumping, figure skating.
Professions related to show business - singers, actors, fashion models. People engaged in these professions sometimes pay excessive attention to their appearance, which causes thoughts about their own imperfection and excess weight.
Self-punishment. Boys and men wear themselves out by reducing their feelings of guilt for unrevealed aggression towards their father or forbidden sexual desire.
Schizophrenia in one of the parents, the tendency to which is inherited. The risk of anorexia nervosa is high in young men whose parents suffered from anorexia, phobia, anxiety depression, psychosis.
Homosexuality. In specialized publications, a cult of lean male bodies is created, which encourages young men to refuse food.

Manifestations of anorexia in men and women are largely similar. In 70% of patients, the onset of the disease occurs at age. If parents failed to notice and stop them, then the symptoms slowly increase.

Painful attention to one's appearance.
Tendency to eat normally once and then starve for weeks.
Tendency to hide food. To reassure relatives that the patient is "eating normally", he may hide or throw away his portion of food.
Decreased sexual interest and potency, which is analogous to female amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).
Ways to lose weight are traditional - refusal to eat, excessive exercise and vomiting, enemas, colon therapy. However, painful attachment to vomiting is less common than in women.
Unmotivated aggression. Rude attitude towards close people, especially to parents.
Refusal to be photographed. Patients argue it by the fact that in the photographs their "completeness" is more noticeable.
Hypochondria. A man is overly worried about his health, he suspects that he has serious illnesses. Natural sensations (especially the feeling of filling the stomach) seem painful to him.
Changes in appearance appear after a few months - weight loss (up to 50% of body weight), dry skin, hair loss.
The tendency to alcoholism is an attempt to cope with emotions and drown out thoughts about food and weight loss.

At first, losing weight causes euphoria. There is lightness and a feeling of victory when it was possible to curb appetite, which causes deep satisfaction in the patient. Over time, the appetite disappears, and the body's resources are depleted. Vigor is replaced by irritability and chronic fatigue. The way of thinking changes, crazy ideas are formed that cannot be corrected. The body becomes painfully thin, but the man continues to perceive himself as fat. Malnutrition of the brain affects the ability to think sensibly and process information. Prolonged abstinence from food leads to organic brain damage.

psychoanalysis;
behavioral therapy;
family psychotherapy with relatives of the patient.

2. Drug treatment. Medicines can only be prescribed by a doctor, and the dosage depends on the severity of the symptoms of the disease.

Antipsychotics Clozapine, Olanzapine are used for the first 6 months of treatment. They promote weight gain and reduce delusions about fullness. The dose of the drug is determined individually. After reaching the therapeutic effect, it is gradually reduced. If an exacerbation occurs, then the dose is increased to the initial one.
Atypical antipsychotics Risperidone, Risset eliminate the negative manifestations of the disease, but do not reduce performance, do not interfere with work and study. Take drugs constantly or only when symptoms of the disease occur. Treatment with atypical drugs can last from 6 months to one and a half years.
Vitamin preparations. B vitamins normalize the functioning of the nervous system, helping to eradicate the root cause of the disease. Vitamins A and E improve the production of hormones, contribute to the restoration of the skin and its appendages, as well as the mucous membranes of internal organs.

3. Reflexology (acupuncture). During sessions, reflex points are affected, which stimulates appetite and restores impaired metabolism.

Anorexia in a child, what to do?

Parents feed the child, forcing them to eat too large portions. The result is an aversion to food.
Monotonous nutrition, which forms a negative attitude towards food.
Transferred serious infectious diseases - diphtheria, hepatitis, tuberculosis.
Psycho-emotional stresses - sharp acclimatization, death of a loved one, divorce of parents.
The abundance of harmful and sweet foods in the diet disrupts digestion and metabolism.
Excessive guardianship and control by parents. It often occurs in single-parent families where a child is brought up without a father by his mother and grandmother.
Dissatisfaction with their appearance, which is often based on criticism from parents and ridicule from peers.
Hereditary predisposition to mental illness.

What are the signs of anorexia in a child?

Eating disorders - refusal to eat or a certain set of foods (potatoes, cereals, meat, sweets).
Physical signs - weight loss, dry skin, sunken eyes, bruising under the eyes.
Behavioral changes - sleep disturbances, irritability, frequent tantrums, poor academic performance.

What to do if you notice signs of anorexia in a child?

Make eating an enjoyable experience. Create comfort in the kitchen. While the child is eating, take a few minutes to sit next to him, ask how the day went, what was the most pleasant event today.
Start eating healthy as a family. For example, instead of pies, cook baked apples with cottage cheese, instead of frying potatoes or fish, bake them in foil. Focus not on the fact that this is losing weight, but that proper nutrition is the basis of beauty, health and vigor. Slimness is just a pleasant consequence of a healthy lifestyle.
Observe family rituals related to food. Bake meat according to your grandmother's recipe, pickle fish, as is customary in your family. Share these secrets with your child. Rituals make the child aware of being part of the group and give a sense of security.
Go shopping together. Make a rule: everyone buys a new, preferably "healthy" product. It could be yogurt, an exotic fruit, a new kind of cheese. Then at home you can try it and decide whose choice is better. Thus, you instill in the child the idea that healthy food brings pleasure.
Don't insist on yours. Give your child a choice, strive for a compromise. This applies to all aspects of life. A child who is overly controlled in everything takes control of what is left for him - his food. Avoid categorical requirements. If you think it's cold outside, don't yell for your daughter to put on a hat, but offer the child an acceptable choice: headband, hat, or hood. The same applies to food. Ask what the child will be, offering a choice of 2-3 acceptable dishes. If the daughter flatly refuses dinner, reschedule lunch for a later time.
Involve your child in the cooking process. Watch cooking shows together, choose recipes on the Internet that you would like to try. There are plenty of tasty and healthy low-calorie meals that do not increase the risk of gaining weight.
Encourage dancing and sports. Regular physical training increases appetite and contributes to the production of endorphins - “happiness hormones”. It is desirable that the child engages in for his own pleasure, as professional activities aimed at winning competitions can provoke a desire for weight loss and cause anorexia and bulimia.
Consult a beautician or fitness trainer if your child is unhappy with their appearance and weight. Children often ignore the advice of their parents, but listen to the opinions of unfamiliar experts. Such specialists will help to create a proper nutrition program that improves skin condition and prevents weight gain.
Listen carefully to the child. Avoid categorical judgments and do not deny problems: “Don't talk nonsense. You are of normal weight. Argument your arguments. Together, calculate the formula for the ideal weight, find the minimum and maximum values \u200b\u200bfor this age. Promise to help in the fight for the ideals of beauty and stick to your word. It is better to cook a diet soup for your child than a rebellious daughter fundamentally skips a meal consisting of a high-calorie roast.
Find areas where your child can fulfill himself. He should feel successful, useful and irreplaceable. To generate interest in various activities, attend a variety of events with your child: exhibitions, dance group competitions and sports. Encourage him to try his hand at a wide variety of sections and circles. Genuinely praise every small accomplishment. Then the idea will take root in a teenager that success and positive emotions can be associated not only with physical attractiveness. And new acquaintances and vivid impressions will distract from thoughts about the imperfection of your body.
Help your child to get complete and versatile information. If a child wants to stick to a diet, then find detailed instructions on this topic. Be sure to read the contraindications together, read about the dangers and consequences of this diet. For example, it has been proven that supporters of protein diets are at risk of getting cancer. The more your child knows, the better he will be protected. So, from a misunderstanding of the danger of the problem, many girls are persistently looking for advice on the Internet “how to get anorexia?”. In their view, this is not a serious mental illness, but an easy path to beauty.

Remember that if within 1-2 months you have not been able to correct the child's eating behavior, then seek the advice of a psychologist.

How to avoid relapse of anorexia?

Take the medicines prescribed by your doctor. Strictly observe the dosage and duration of administration. If you notice that all thoughts are related to food and weight loss, then you need to tell your doctor about it. He will adjust the dose of medications, which will avoid exacerbation of anorexia.
Don't diet. Do not set any limits for yourself - eat a little of everything. Make a nutrition program for yourself, which will include all the products necessary for health. From healthy foods and dishes, choose those that you like and include them in your menu. Your diet must include sources of protein (meat, fish, dairy products, cheese), vegetables, fruits in any form and cereals.
Eat small meals every three hours. A small amount of food that regularly enters the body will help not to constantly think about food, restore the digestive system and improve metabolism. It will be better if you make a menu in advance and keep the food you need for the day in the refrigerator. It can be fruits, yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled meat, baked vegetables, cheese, juice with pulp. Don't give up sweets completely.
Don't watch fashion magazines and fashion shows. Don't compare yourself to models. Many of them suffer from anorexia and bulimia, and cannot be an example for you.
Pamper yourself. Food should not be the reward. These can be new clothes, manicures, pedicures, spas, massages, visits to master classes or tickets to events that interest you.
Connect with people and don't shut yourself up. Attend group therapy classes, meet up with friends. Surround yourself with people who are interested not only in your appearance, but also in your inner world. Cut off contact with friends who are constantly losing weight and dieting. Do not visit forums and sites dedicated to this topic.
Find yourself a hobby. Art therapy is widely used to prevent exacerbations. If you don’t know where to start, go to a handmade store, where there is now a huge selection of art supplies.
Avoid stressful situations. Change your behavior in such a way that you avoid conflicts and do not get upset over trifles. Stress can give rise to negative thoughts, which makes it tempting to stop writing again.

Scientists agree that anorexia is a chronic disease characterized by periods of calm and relapses. This food addiction is compared with diabetes mellitus: a person must constantly monitor his condition, follow preventive measures, and when the first signs of the disease appear, start medication. Only in this way is it possible to stop the return of anorexia in time and prevent a relapse.

May 21, 2012, 14:46

23 year old Mark Korn from the English town of Basildon, Essex weighs just over 45 kilograms. And some time ago, his weight was even less. But now the family is helping the anorexic Mark get better - he eats four jars of custard a day, drinks ten chocolate mousses and about ten cups of tea. His unusual diet consists of only liquid foods, because Mark is terribly afraid of solid foods. 23-year-old Mark Korn from the town of Basildon, Essex weighs just over 45 kilos.
The British diet consists exclusively of liquid and creamy dishes. He drinks 10 cups of tea a day (pictured), 10 Tesco chocolate mousses and four jars of Ambrosia custard. The 23-year-old Brit turned into an anorexic because he suffers from a phobia that was caused by bullying as a child. Every time Mark is confronted with normal food, he starts to panic. He can only drink cocktails, hot drinks and eat chocolate mousse and cream.
“When I was 14 years old, I weighed 100 kilograms and I was constantly tormented by bullies who called me fat,” Mark recalls. I stopped eating solid food and often limited my daily diet to a can of Coca-Cola. Now I am incredibly thin, in my "skinny" period I weighed about 40 kilograms. I ate almost nothing. But now, with the help of my family, I'm on my way to recovery." Pictured: Mark with his parents.
Photo from the family archive: Mark Korn (center) as a child. Town of Basildon, Essex. "I'm incredibly thin, you can count all my bones, but I prefer to be that way than fat," says Mark.
Mark's parents sounded the alarm when their 14-year-old son began to suddenly lose weight. The doctor diagnosed the guy with anorexia, and since then the family has been fighting for his recovery. Gradually, he began to eat liquid food, but still cannot bring himself to eat regular food. “I would really like him to gain weight,” says Janice, the guy’s mom. “I would very much like him to sit down at the family table again.” In the photo: 23-year-old Mark Korn and his family: father Daniel (right), and mother Janice (left) and sister (second from left).
Experts note that Mark Korn has an eating disorder, the so-called. eating disorder. This is a psychogenic behavioral syndrome associated with eating disorders. Scientists note that in the UK about 1.6 million people suffer from an eating disorder. Of these, 20% are men. Contrary to popular belief that anorexia and bulimia are exclusively women's problems, the first nationwide study of eating disorders in the United States found that a quarter of adults suffering from these conditions are men, according to Inopressa. According to the study, about 850 thousand men suffer from such disorders.

“Only skin and bones” - very thin, almost “transparent” girls often hear in their address. Perhaps for some, these words will seem unfair, but for people suffering from anorexia, this is the most desirable and pleasant compliment.

All that girls strive for, exhausting themselves with hunger, is to become even more slender, to lose weight even more. This article is about how to treat anorexia, which can lead to a protracted enthusiastic struggle with "extra" kilograms.

The insidiousness of the disease

For almost every schoolgirl, the ideal is a beautiful thin model. Doctors constantly warn that teenage girls, preoccupied with their appearance, often go on strict diets, look for ways to lose weight, how to get anorexia. They bring themselves to exhaustion, trying to be like the beauties from fashionable glossy magazines. And if even 10 years ago cases of starvation were perceived as a sensation, now they have become so common that they have become a trend.

Anorexia disease is an obsession to reduce weight by any means, to become as slim as possible. Those suffering from the disease all the time think that they need to lose weight more and more. Often the thought results in a physical aversion to any food. The disease requires timely treatment, is a dangerous case of an eating disorder. With the disease, there is a high mortality rate, which is more than 15% of all registered cases. The main causes of death: suicide, cardiac arrest, hypotension.

Important: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by irascibility, irritability, and unwillingness to make contact and eat with other family members.

The cult of harmony can lead to dangerous consequences. In girls who torture themselves with hunger, the image of their own body is disturbed, that is, in the mirror they see not real, but distorted “too fat” forms. A teenager avoids being photographed, constantly weighs himself and counts calories, and plays sports to the point of absurdity.

Many seek to hide the condition from their relatives. For example, girls may not refuse to dine with their families, but then they take all possible measures to quickly part with the food they have eaten - they drink laxatives, induce vomiting.

"Experiments" on oneself entail many problems in the body. The main symptoms and signs of the disease:

depletion of the body;
hormonal disorders;
disorders in the thyroid gland;
decreased immunity;
atrophy of the cerebral cortex, leading to a deterioration in attention and thinking, memory;
cessation of menstruation.

In anorectics, fingertips are constantly freezing, baldness is observed, nails break and deform. The production of growth hormone is reduced, so people with the disease are usually short in stature. They are often suffer from constipation, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The constant call of vomiting entails gastritis, ulceration of the esophagus, insufficient activity of the pancreas, caries.

Patients often withdraw into themselves, trying to hide their condition from loved ones. They often do not realize that they are sick and need medical attention. This condition can last for months and the result is shattered health.

Important: In adolescence, appearance plays an extremely important role. Protect your child from an insidious disease - do not lower his self-esteem, support him emotionally, do not criticize his appearance.

Male version

Often anorexia in men becomes the result of neurosis, psychopathy, schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Some young people believe that this is the most effective way to achieve male ideals of beauty - a lean body, huge biceps, a small waist, a muscular torso.

Bullying leads not only to excessive thinness, but also to secrecy, isolation, low self-esteem, a narrow circle of interests. Anorexic men are distinguished by emotional coldness towards other people. The fact is also obvious: the sufferer of the disease does not realize the seriousness of the disease.

Treatment

Early detection of the disease gives a better chance to save a person in trouble. An experienced psychotherapist will tell you how to cure anorexia. It is important to understand that the help and support of loved ones is extremely important - only in this way can a loved one gain self-confidence, break out of the vicious circle. Do not be indifferent to the misfortune of man!

The main goal of treating a disease is to bring a person’s weight back to normal, restore fluid balance in the body.

This is interesting: Many stars had to endure the disease. Among them are Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Tara Reid, Kate Bosworth, Tori Spelling, Claire Danes, AnnaLynn McCord. They had to spend a lot of effort to find harmony with themselves, to return to a normal body.

The disease has three stages of development:

Dysmorphophobic. It is characterized by an imaginary idea of fullness, an obsession with reducing forms, a depressive state.
Dysmorphomaniac. Firm confidence in "impermissible forms", secret starvation, dependence on laxatives, the desire for artificial cleansing of the stomach.
cachectic. There are signs of dystrophy. The patient has a complete lack of appetite, slow heartbeat, low blood pressure and temperature, a "bouquet" of various diseases.

Pharmacological therapy is carried out under the supervision of physicians. It is very important during the period of illness to observe bed rest, to perform feasible physical exercises. Patients should feel the emotional support of loved ones.

Anorexia is treated with the following drugs:

Chlorpromazine (Chlorpromazine), Olanzopine (Olanzapine) - weaken the excited, compulsive and obsessive behavior.
Cyproheptadine (Cyproheptadine) - acts as an antidepressant, promotes weight gain.
Amitriptyline (Amitriptyline) - reduces anxiety, increases body weight.
Fluoxetine (Fluoxetine) - reduces the frequency of eating disorders.

Each psychiatrist decides how to treat anorexia, based on the patient's condition, on the degree of exhaustion of the body. In the course of complex treatment, a high-calorie diet, psychotherapeutic sessions, massage and restorative procedures are prescribed.

The treatment also includes:

psychological correction of negative attitudes towards food intake,
help to adequately perceive one's own appearance,
normalization of the process of independent eating,
family psychotherapy, work with relatives.

Help at home

Vitamin preparations, herbal preparations, a high-calorie diet, sports, self-hypnosis and relaxation techniques make home treatment comfortable, affordable and effective.

Important: Muffins, white bread, chocolate, sweet peppers, dill, nuts, apples help increase appetite.

Apples and lard

Cut into small slices 6 fragrant Antonov apples, 400 g of ordinary fat (without salt). Put everything in a ceramic pot and put in the oven to languish at a low temperature (75-80 degrees). Grind 12 yolks with a glass of sugar, add 4 tiles quality dark chocolate, previously crushed in a blender (grated).

When the apples are soft and the fat is melted, mix them with the chocolate-yolk mixture. Spread the resulting fragrant "cream" on white bread, eat at every meal in unlimited quantities. It will increase appetite, relieve anemia, exhaustion.

Infusion of elecampane roots

Pour a teaspoon of crushed roots with a cup (200 ml) of cold water. Insist 8 hours, strain. Take 20 minutes before meals 2 tbsp. spoons. The composition improves digestion, stimulates appetite.

Anise Seed Infusion

Pour a teaspoon of anise seeds with a cup (200 ml) of boiling water. Insist until completely cooled, strain. Take 0.5 cups half an hour before meals.

Sweet medicine from calamus

Mix pharmaceutical powder from calamus rhizome with sugar. Adults take 1 teaspoon before meals, children - half the dose.

Infusion from the fruits of forest raspberries

Pour a tablespoon of dried berries with a cup of boiling water, leave for 1 hour. Take warm three times a day, 2 tbsp. spoons.

Be confident in your beauty, loved and successful! Fascinating walks in interesting places, outdoor recreation, meetings with friends, relaxation and meditation practices, dousing with cold water and sunbathing will give spiritual strength and energy. Honey, nuts and ice cream will delight. And then the question of how to treat anorexia will never concern you. Health to you and your loved ones!