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Anorexia
Information on Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorder for Vegetarians, Part-Vegetarians and Vegans

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Anorexia Nervosa in Vegetarians and Meat Eaters

What is Anorexia?

It’s a serious eating disorder during which a person (typically a teenage girl) becomes so obsessed with her weight and shape that she starves herself down to nothing.

Specifically, Anorexia is characterized by a loss of 15-25 per cent of usual body weight, an unnatural fear of becoming fat, a distorted perception of body image and an absence of a menstrual cycle. This extreme weight loss leads directly to malnutrition and failing health.

Anorexia Takes Over

Ultimately, the illness itself takes control and the chemical changes in the body affect the brain and distort thinking, making it impossible for the person to make rational decisions about their eating habits or food.

Like bulimia, binge-eating and other eating disorders, anorexia is fundamentally a psychological condition. Weight loss is a symptom not the cause.

The Anorexia Sufferer

No matter how thin she gets, the anorexic sufferer (anorectic) continues to believe that she’s too fat. In fact, her whole attitude becomes a process of denial. She denies herself food, she denies she has a problem, she denies she’s emaciated and, above all, she denies help.

Anorexia is Not About Being Thin

Anorexia has little to do with body shape. It’s mainly about gaining control. Sufferers feel they lack control over their lives and seek to reassert it by focusing on their weight. It may seem crazy to outsiders, but to the anorexic it makes perfect sense. To him/her, every pound lost is a victory in her battle for control and every pound regained is a defeat.

The Causes of Anorexia

The exact cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown. It can be the delayed result of unresolved conflicts or painful experiences from childhood. It may be the result of a recent trauma or ongoing issues. Perhaps they are not doing well at school. Or maybe they did well at school but are now very unsure about their career or college situation. There is no set cause or pattern. Every anorectic is unique.

Who is Likely to Develop Anorexia?

Anyone. However, the majority of people with anorexia are white girls from middle/upper income families, aged 12 to 18 years. Typically, they are intelligent, sensitive, well-behaved individuals but with a low self esteem.

Anorectics Yearn for Control

Responding to perceived stress, most anorectics start dieting to lose a few pounds. They begin to focus on their body as if to say – I might not be able to control other things in my life, but I can control my weight. Doing this makes them feel in charge. They begin to feel in control again.

Unfortunately, the dieting usually gets out of control and a few pounds leads to 20, 30, 40 pounds or more. When friends and family express concern about the anorectic's reduced weight and shape, their concern is viewed by the anorectic as a threat to her weight control. Despite being extremely thin and underweight, she maintains a self-perception of being fat. This leads her to try to lose even more weight in an effort to retain control.

Anorexia - Purging, Use of Laxatives

As an anorectic's weight drops to below 100 pounds, the body slows down. Breathing, pulse and blood pressure rates drop, and thyroid function slows, causing weight loss to slow down or stop, even though very little food is being consumed. This frustrates the anorectic who quickly learns other behaviors to rid themselves of weight, like: extreme exercise routines; vomiting; laxatives abuse and other behaviors to help purge their system of calories.

Medical Problems Associated with Anorexia

In patients with anorexia, starvation can damage vital organs such as the brain and heart. Menstrual periods stop (a condition called amenorrhea), skin, nails and hair become dry and the skin becomes covered with soft hair as a natural defense mechanism against extreme weight loss. Excessive thirst and urination are also common. Dehydration contributes to constipation, and reduced body fat leads to lowered body temperature and the inability to withstand cold. The anorectic becomes vulnerable to illness. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 1 in 10 cases of anorexia ends in death from starvation, suicide or medical complications like heart attacks or kidney failure.

Scientists have found that many patients with anorexia also suffer from other psychiatric conditions. Most anorectics suffer from clinical depression, while others suffer from anxiety or personality disorders, and in consequence may have suicidal tendencies. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition typified by compulsive, repetitive behavior, can also accompany anorexia.

Warning Signs of Anorexia

If you think that your loved one might be in danger from anorexia, here are some warning signs to watch out for.

Is she losing a lot of weight? Has she fallen 7 pounds below the normal weight range for someone of her height?

Is she becoming an obsessive calorie-counter? Does she eat only very low-calorie foods, like salad and fruit?

Is she becoming secretive or evasive about her eating habits? Does she eat out of sight or in private?

Has she started to become obsessive about exercise, or any other daily routine (e.g. homework)?

Is she suffering unusually from infections, constipation, dizzy spells, insomnia, or does she complain of the cold?

If she has started to develop these behavior patterns, you should definitely speak to your doctor and the sooner, the better. However, don’t expect your loved one to thank you for intervening. Most anorectics deny they have any sort of problem, let alone anorexia.

When speaking to a loved one whom you think is becoming anorexic, don't tell them they're looking thin. Instead, tell them they look unhealthy and offer to go with them to see their doctor.

What is the Treatment for Anorexia

Anorexia is a mental problem that causes irrational / unnatural eating patterns. Treatment for this eating disorder should include both a mental health professional as well as a primary health care physician.

Clinical treatment may include ongoing medical care, regular therapy, nutritional counseling, and possibly medication. Eating disorders can be treated with anti-depressants, however, this is less effective for anorexia nervosa.

Co-occurring psychological treatment is also essential to help identify the important issues, and replace the anorectic's destructive thoughts and behaviors with more positive ones. Support groups are also invaluable in treating anorexia. Patients may meet weekly to discuss their fears and help each other recover. Most cases of anorexia can be treated successfully, but not instantly. For many patients, treatments may need to be long-term.

How Family and Friends can Help an Anorectic

The most important thing that family/ friends can offer a person with anorexia is unconditional love. To put it another way, they should love the individual without supporting their actions.

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Questions About Anorexia and Eating Disorders

Q. What's the best way to handle someone with an eating disorder?

The immediate goal is to seek professional help. Eating disorders are serious illnesses that require specialist clinical, dietary and psychological care and support. Do not delay.

The best practical approach to someone whom you think is suffering from anorexia, bulimia or binge eating is to say: "You don't look healthy. Would you like me to go with you to see a doctor?"

If you suspect anorexia, do not tell them they look too thin. Focus on their health.

If you suspect binge eating, do not criticize their weight or dietary habits. Focus on health.

Q. What Dos and Don't's are there When Talking to an Anorectic?

Don’t lecture her/him, it makes things worse! Instead, listen to her.

Try to be patient! Remember, she doesn’t see things like you do.

No matter how provocative her behavior, try to be there for her. It’s the only way to bridge her sense of isolation.

If she puts on weight, don’t mention her improved appearance. Mention something else, like her improved confidence.

If the person is under 18 years of age, a parent can bring her/him in for treatment. If the person is over 18, this is not possible, but you should definitely encourage them to seek help. If the anorectic or bulimic is at risk from suicide, bring them in for mental health treatment immediately. For support reasons, you may decide to accompany the anorectic / bulimic when they visit a psychologist, but don't try to solve their problems for them. It's simply not possible.

Q. I think I may have an eating disorder. What should I do?

First of all, please realize that you are not alone. A huge number of other people have similar problems. So, no matter how you think about your body, or what dietary problems you have, it's easy to get help. However, it is very important to act and seek such help. The sooner you act, the easier the cure.

If you are in school, talk with your parents or speak in private with a school counsellor. If you are in college, visit your campus health service and ask to be referred to someone with experience of eating disorders.

You can do it!

Sources include: Eating Disorder Association and AC Weight Loss Diet Program

Vegetarian Healthy Diet Program