Anorexia Rehab
The characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa is one of three primary eating disorders along with Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder that is a serious public health issue in the US today. The disorder is typically characterized by the following elements:
- a compulsion to stay thin combined with the unwillingness to eat normally and maintain a healthy body weight
- a distorted image of one’s body
- a lack of menstrual periods in girls and women
- continual fear of becoming obese
- emaciation
- extremely disturbed eating habits
The anorexic will avoid gaining weight in a number of different ways but the more common ones involve:
- excessive dieting and exercise
- the misuse of diuretics, enemas, and laxatives
- self-induced vomiting
Even though the anorexic is normally within the proper weight range, they have a distorted self-image where they think they are overweight and need to lose weight. This holds true even if they appear to be malnourished or starving. They become obsessed with their eating habits, their food, and controlling their weight.
The individual who is suffering with Anorexia Nervosa as it is more technically known, will continually weigh themselves, eat extremely small quantities (sometimes as little as a teaspoon of food during an entire day), and portion their food carefully. Some individuals who enter an Anorexia rehab program will respond the very first time and successfully overcome their eating disorder. Conversely, other individuals will have relapses even though they are steadily improving in the program.
There is hope for a brighter future
According to numerous studies, fatalities are ten times more common among individuals who are suffering with Anorexia compared to other individuals who do not have an eating disorder. Additionally, the individual suffering with Anorexia may also suffer with coexisting physical or psychological conditions such as anxiety, cardiovascular or neurological complications, depression, impaired physical development, obsessive behavior, and substance abuse.
There are normally three elements involved with most Anorexia rehab programs today:
- eliminating or reducing those behavior patterns of thoughts which lead to unhealthy eating and bad nutrition as well as the prevention of any relapsing
- restoring the individual to a healthier body weight
- treating any co-existing psychological disorder that may be related to Anorexia
If you or a loved one is suffering with an eating disorder and has been searching for an effective Anorexia rehab program, the Harmony Grove eating wellness center is here to help. Women from countries around the world have successfully overcome their eating disorder and have returned home to live a healthier life free from the worry of relapsing back into the disorder. For more information regarding our facility and our programs, call us today at the toll-free phone number listed above.