What is anorexia?
WHEN Esther Nanziri was asked why she had denied herself food to the point of starvation, she replied that her friends at school and her big sister constantly made fun of her size, frustrating her.
By Vision Reporter
WHEN Esther Nanziri was asked why she had denied herself food to the point of starvation, she replied that her friends at school and her big sister constantly made fun of her size, frustrating her.
“They always called me fat which got me so upset that I had to eat very little food just to be the right size,†she narrates.
Psychologists say self-esteem is closely related to self-image and body image is one’s perception of their appearance.
Therefore people, especially girls under 18, are victimised by the myth that they do not look good enough because they are big or not small enough.
In a bid to fit in, they intentionally avoid eating regular meals to lose weight to be the right size. This is what causes anorexia.
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterised by extremely low body weight, distorted body image and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.
Anorexics refuse to maintain minimally normal body weight for their age and height due to intense fear of gaining weight even though they are underweight.
Dr. William Kabweru of Mulago Hospital, says: “Psychological stress makes anorexics prone to ulcers which can only be treated surgically,â€
Dr. John Powell, a specialist in public health medicine, says social and environmental factors have been found to headline the promotion of cultural factors such as endorsement of slimness as the ideal female form in modern societies, particularly through the media.
Causes of anorexia
Powell says anorexia is caused by psychological disorders.
Obsessive fear of gaining weight
Zinc deficiency and a disturbed serotonin system
Sometimes it can be hereditary.
Although not very common, anorexia cases exist in Uganda, especially among high school girls and adults below the age of 25. Runway models work so hard to maintain a stereotypical size in order to look right for their professions. They are thus, impelled to starve to maintain a stick-thin size.
Eating disorders are usually associated with females, but there are an increasing number of boys affected by anorexia
Anorexics always have their BMI below the normal one and it causes serious health complications as weight loss and starvation progress.
“Mortality rates among aneroxics are high and if anorexia damages the heart, the victim might develop an irregular heartbeat,†says Powell.
Treatment
The sooner the treatment begins, the higher the chances of recovery. Treatment tries to address restoring the person to normal weight, treating the psychological disorders related to the illness, reducing the thoughts that originally led to disordered eating.
Drug treatment has not been found to be effective in treating anorexia or preventing a relapse.
“Sufferers should seek help or be encouraged to do so,†advises Powell.
WHEN Esther Nanziri was asked why she had denied herself food to the point of starvation, she replied that her friends at school and her big sister constantly made fun of her size, frustrating her.
“They always called me fat which got me so upset that I had to eat very little food just to be the right size,†she narrates.
Psychologists say self-esteem is closely related to self-image and body image is one’s perception of their appearance.
Therefore people, especially girls under 18, are victimised by the myth that they do not look good enough because they are big or not small enough.
In a bid to fit in, they intentionally avoid eating regular meals to lose weight to be the right size. This is what causes anorexia.
Anorexia is an eating disorder characterised by extremely low body weight, distorted body image and an obsessive fear of gaining weight.
Anorexics refuse to maintain minimally normal body weight for their age and height due to intense fear of gaining weight even though they are underweight.
Dr. William Kabweru of Mulago Hospital, says: “Psychological stress makes anorexics prone to ulcers which can only be treated surgically,â€
Dr. John Powell, a specialist in public health medicine, says social and environmental factors have been found to headline the promotion of cultural factors such as endorsement of slimness as the ideal female form in modern societies, particularly through the media.
Causes of anorexia
Powell says anorexia is caused by psychological disorders.
Obsessive fear of gaining weight
Zinc deficiency and a disturbed serotonin system
Sometimes it can be hereditary.
Although not very common, anorexia cases exist in Uganda, especially among high school girls and adults below the age of 25. Runway models work so hard to maintain a stereotypical size in order to look right for their professions. They are thus, impelled to starve to maintain a stick-thin size.
Eating disorders are usually associated with females, but there are an increasing number of boys affected by anorexia
Anorexics always have their BMI below the normal one and it causes serious health complications as weight loss and starvation progress.
“Mortality rates among aneroxics are high and if anorexia damages the heart, the victim might develop an irregular heartbeat,†says Powell.
Treatment
The sooner the treatment begins, the higher the chances of recovery. Treatment tries to address restoring the person to normal weight, treating the psychological disorders related to the illness, reducing the thoughts that originally led to disordered eating.
Drug treatment has not been found to be effective in treating anorexia or preventing a relapse.
“Sufferers should seek help or be encouraged to do so,†advises Powell.