Anorexia Articles
Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to anorexia including topics such as anorexia treatment, signs of anorexia, and warning signs of anorexia. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an irrational fear of gaining weight -- even when dangerously thin. As this eMedTV article explains, anorexia can lead to severe health risks, including cardiac arrest, brittle bones, and brain damage.
Signs of anorexia include reduced muscle mass, compulsively exercising, anemia, and brittle hair and nails. This eMedTV article discusses signs of anorexia in detail, from the early stages of the disease to when it is more advanced.
Anorexia and bulimia are eating disorders associated with drastic measures to lose weight, such as avoiding food or purging food. This page of the eMedTV library defines anorexia and bulimia, and provides links to more detailed information.
Anorexia symptoms range from avoidance of food to swollen joints. This eMedTV article provides details about early anorexia symptoms as well as information about anorexia symptoms that occur when the disease is more advanced.
The anorexia statistics in this eMedTV article indicate that while the related death rate is higher than all other causes of death in women, more men are developing the disease. Anorexia statistics also show that the problem is a global one.
Male anorexia is not much different from the condition in females. As this page of the eMedTV library explains, people with male anorexia suffer from the same problems and the same treatment methods are often applied.
The exact causes of anorexia are not known; however, as this page of the eMedTV library explains, possible risk factors include biochemistry, personality traits, and genetics. The risk factors will be studied further to determine causes of anorexia.
Possible anorexia causes include genetics, biochemistry, and environmental factors. As this page of the eMedTV archive explains, more research is needed before anorexia causes can be precisely determined.
No universal anorexia treatment will cure someone with the condition. Rather, as this eMedTV article explains, a combination of anorexia treatments, such as counseling, medications, and hospitalization, is used to return the person to normal weight.
Of the warning signs of anorexia, excessive weight loss is the most obvious. However, as this eMedTV article explains, there are subtle warning signs of anorexia, such as dressing in layers and conducting elaborate rituals around food.
Anorexia research is currently under way on appetite control biology, hormones, and genetics to better understand this condition. This eMedTV resource discusses ongoing anorexia research in detail.
Early treatment for anorexia gives the best chance of restoring a person to normal weight. As this eMedTV Web page explains, treatment for anorexia may involve medications, nutritional counseling, and, in severe cases, hospitalization.
Health risks of anorexia range from psychological issues, cardiac failure, and even death. This eMedTV article describes the health risks of anorexia, including those that remain after the disease has been treated.