Anorexia is a condition characterized as an eating disorder, wherein the patients develop a distorted idea of weight. Simply put, this is a condition resulting in a phobia of gaining weight. This causes the affected people to take measures to lose weight drastically. It causes the patient’s body weight to drop drastically due to lack of nutrition and often leads to severe health complications. The disease is life-threatening in many cases. This article provides a complete overview of the illness and suggests ways to manage it.

Symptoms
It can be challenging to notice the symptoms of anorexia because it appears as low weight, which can be seen in people who don’t have this condition. In addition, it might take some time before an affected person begins to appear thin, mainly because the patients tend to hide the signs, physical issues, and eating habits. Apart from physical symptoms, the condition causes behavioral and emotional issues. The primary sign of that is an extreme fear of becoming fat. So, it is critical that one closely looks for symptoms if they believe someone has developed anorexia. Below are lists of physical and behavioral indicators of the condition.

• Physical symptoms
  Physical symptoms that point toward the condition include eroded teeth, knuckle calluses, swelling in the limbs, dehydration, low blood pressure, heart rhythm irregularity, cold intolerance, yellowish or dry skin, abdominal pain, constipation, lack of menstruation in women or missed periods, and thinning and easily breakable hair. Other symptoms to look out for are bluish fingers, fainting or dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, abnormality in blood count, thin appearance, and extreme, sudden weight loss.
• Behavioral symptoms
  Some behavioral symptoms to look out for are self-induced vomiting after eating, often with the help of enemas and laxatives, excessively exercising, regular fasting and restrictive eating, lack of interest in sex, insomnia, irritability, social withdrawal, lack of emotion, complaining about fat gain when that is not the case, covering up weight loss with layers of clothing, and checking mirrors frequently to find flaws. Some other symptoms that point toward the condition are repeatedly measuring one’s weight, lying about food intake, not eating publicly, eating only low calorie, fat-free food, developing eating habits like spitting out food after eating, making excuses about not eating, skipping meals frequently, and obsessing about food but not eating any.

Causes
The cause of anorexia is not clearly known. However, experts believe the disease occurs due to a combination of three factors:

• Environmental
  Most cultures underline thinness as a key to success and beauty, making it a measurement of self-worth, especially among young people. So, peer pressure can potentially cause people to become obsessed with weight.
• Psychological
  It is believed that people with obsessive-compulsive habits have a higher chance of developing anorexia. To begin with, such people can become obsessed with their weight easily. They also have a higher chance of sticking to their new, harmful dietary habits. So, people with such psychological traits should be more careful.
• Biological
  Genetic tendencies such as perseverance and perfectionism can drive a person towards anorexia. It may also be a result of genetic changes in some people. However, while the experts suggest genes might have a part to play in developing the illness, they have not yet identified the responsible genes.

Diagnosis
Diagnosing anorexia involves several tests. The doctor will first try to determine if the weight loss results from any other illness. If they cannot be sure about it, the following tests can be performed to look for signs of anorexia.

• Psychological evaluation
  A mental health professional will ask an individual questions regarding their eating habits, feelings, and thoughts to determine if they have anorexic tendencies. Patients might also have to take a self-assessment examination for psychological evaluation.
• Lab tests
  Specific blood tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC) are often performed to check protein levels, electrolytes, liver health, thyroid, and kidney functions. Urinalysis is another test the doctor might suggest to get an idea about one’s overall health.
• Physical exam
  This step involves getting a clear idea about weight loss. The doctor will check for height and weight ratio, blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, nail issue, skin condition, lung function, and abdominal health.

Treatment
The treatment of anorexia involves help from a dietitian, psychologist, and doctors. The doctors first determine if the patient requires hospitalization in case there are severe health complications. The next step is restoring the patient’s health to normal. While a psychologist will try to help with behavioral changes so that the person with anorexia can begin eating healthy again, a dietitian will provide the best possible dietary plan. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also used in some cases to inspire weight gain by treating the patient’s distorted beliefs.

One of the most vital aspects of anorexia treatment is the family’s involvement. Only a patient’s loved ones can ensure that the affected individual stick to their treatment and healthy eating habits while returning to a normal life.