Causes and Impacts of Anorexia Nervosa

Hee, Wai Yee (2021) Causes and Impacts of Anorexia Nervosa. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

This project aims to present recent research in the causes and impact of anorexia nervosa. In this scoping review, 24 journal from 2010 to 2020 was selected to summarize on the causes and impact of anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an abnormally low body weight, extreme weight loss, an intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image and having an abnormal eating behaviour. People with anorexia highly emphasize on controlling their body weight and maintaining their body shape using extreme efforts that tend to be life threatening. The factors that contribute to anorexia nervosa including biological factors, psychological factors, and environmental factors. Most of the anorexia patients have poor self esteem, depression and anxiety due to their unsatisfied body image. Hence, psychological factors are the most common causes of anorexia nervosa. Not only that, anorexia nervosa patients often deny the seriousness of their low body weight and are unwilling to maintain a healthy weight and eat a healthy diet, thus causing a lot of serious health problems. The most common complication that is found in anorexia patients is bone loss. Impaired bone microarchitecture increases fracture risk and thinning of bone due to low bone mineral density. Besides, anorexia patients will face heart problems such as slow heartbeat as the heart is affected by poor nutrition and poor eating habits. The behaviour of binging and purging in anorexia patients will severely affect the digestive system by having high risk for gastric rupture, inflammation from frequent vomiting, and irregular bowel movements. Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disease with high mortality rates especially in young patients, therefore it is important to have prevention and early recognition of the problem.