Anorexia Flashcards
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia is a mental health disorder centred around food. People with anorexia restrict the amount of calories they eat.
8 Causes of anorexia ?
Abuse
Excessive restraint or control in other areas of life
Going through puberty
Living in a culture where it’s desirable to be thin
Tendency towards anxiety or depression
Poor weak reaction to stress
Malnutrition affecting balance of hormones
Brain becoming sensitive to amino acid tryptophan
6 Symptoms of anorexia
Tooth decay/bad breath Engagement in lots of high impact activities Excessive weight loss Lying to others about food consumption Finds it difficult to think about anything else but food Lying to others about weight loss Periods stop Growth of fine hair or loss of hair Pain in abdomen Swelling in feet/hands Intolerance to cold Light head/dizziness
Initial observations of anorexia
If someone has anorexia their weight is 15% bellow average it’s normally bellow 17.5
Further tests of anorexia
SCOFF TEST to answer key questions on food and weight to recognise who has an eating disorder answers 5 questions on food and weight
Medical interventions
Counselling
Medication
Compulsory treatment
Counselling
Treatment will be for at least 6 months
E.g. CBT
Medication
SSRI a yep of antidepressant that can help people with psychological problems
Compulsory treatment
Occasionally someone with anorexia may refuse treatment even if their life is at risk. Last resort a doctor May section them to give the treatment they need
Lifestyle changes?
Change their eating habits
Change the way they think about food
Gain weight safely
Gaining weight safely
Patients need advice about gaining weight safely. At first only small amounts of food will be eaten which will gradually increase till they have a regular eating habit with three meals a day
Further access to health care
Community and online support groups
