Anorexia nervosa is a severe, potentially deadly eating disorder featuring an extreme fear of weight gain and distorted body image resulting in food avoidance and drastic weight reduction. People suffering from anorexia nervosa may undertake unhealthy dieting, engage in too much exercise, among other things to manage their weights mainly regardless of being underweight by a considerable extent. Anorexia nervosa can have serious physical, mental and emotional consequences for the afflicted person; therefore, prompt intervention and treatment are of utmost importance.

Types of Anorexia Nervosa:

Anorexia nervosa can be classified into two main subtypes based on the presence or absence of purging behaviors:

• Restricting Type: Persons with the restricting type of anorexia nervosa restrict their food intake and do not regularly take part in binge eating or purging behaviors.
• Binge-Eating/Purging Type: Persons with the binge-eating/purging type of anorexia nervosa engage in episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise.

Causes and Risk Factors:

The exact cause of anorexia nervosa remains unknown; however, it probably results from a mixture of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors such as:

1. Higher chances are there that individuals who have a family history of eating disorders or other psychiatric conditions may be at high risk.
2. Changes in hormones, abnormalities in brain chemistry and imbalances of neurotransmitters might lead to the development of anorexia nervosa.
3. Psychological factors like low self-esteem, the desire for perfectionism, dissatisfaction with body image and anxiety can perpetuate the development/maintenance of anorexia nervosa.
4. The pressure to conform to a specific body type imposed by society or culture norms about weight or appearance as well as exposure to images in mass media that promote thinness could encourage abnormal attitudes towards food.

Symptoms:

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa might include:

• Loss of weight or failure to gain it during stages of growth hence having low body weight relative to the age, size and developmental trajectory.
• People may go to great lengths to limit their food intake including very low-calorie diets, avoiding some types of foods or all the foods in one group and setting strict eating rules.
• Perceiving themselves as overweight even when extremely thin accompanied by an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
• Preoccupation with Food i.e., The mind becomes focused on food thoughts, calories, weight and looks.
• Exercise excessively driven by a need to burn calories or maintain control overweight.
• Signs such as weakness fatigue dizziness and fainting associated with malnutritionary effects like dehydration irregular periods in females' dry skin brittle hair and nails cold intolerance etc.
• Psychological distress conditions cause mood swings, anxiety, depression, isolation from society and lack of concentration while working so that one cannot make sound judgments.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa is based on a comprehensive clinical evaluation, including medical history, physical examination, assessment of eating habits, weight loss and psychological symptoms. Diagnostic criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) include:

• Persistent restriction of energy intake leading to significantly low body weight.
• Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat/obese, despite being underweight.
• Disturbance in the way one's body weight, shape, or size is experienced, leading to self-esteem being excessively influenced by body weight or shape.

Treatment:

Typically, anorexia nervosa is treated by a team of medical specialists who cover physiological, nutritional and psychological needs.

• This involves physiologic monitoring and stabilization including nutritional rehabilitation, correction of electrolyte abnormalities and treatment of any medical complications.
• This entails reestablishing healthy eating habits, regaining weight and teaching balanced nutrition within the guidance of a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
• Therapy might be either individual or family-based as well as groups with various goals such as working through underlying psychological issues that contribute towards maladaptive coping mechanisms to challenge maladaptive beliefs about food or body image problems so that they can start recovering from such illnesses starting with their thoughts about eating and weight.
• Antidepressant drugs as well as anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed in some instances to treat accompanying mood and anxiety disorders.
• Inpatient care or residential treatment for those who are critically undernourished, medically unstable, or at immediate risk necessitates intense medical and psychiatric supervision.

The prognosis for anorexia nervosa depends on factors such as disease severity and duration, medical complications presence, response to treatment etc. Early detection and treatment can improve the better chance of recovery. However, anorexia nervosa can be a chronic and relapsing condition, requiring ongoing support and management, With appropriate treatment and support.