What Anorexia And How Is It Treated
In just about every direction in San Diego, California, beautiful people are walking around. That goes without mentioning the images that are plastered all over magazine covers, television, and on social media. With unrealistic body expectations being displayed everywhere, more and more people are suffering from anorexia.
What is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa, otherwise known as anorexia, is a condition that causes severe weight loss due to self-starvation. People that suffer from anorexia restrict how many calories they consume to deal with a distorted self-body image.
Some individuals will add excessive exercise, laxatives, or binging and purging to their routine in hopes of accelerating the weight loss or maintaining a body weight that is inappropriate for their body height, stature, and age. Researchers and psychologists have discovered signs of anorexia going back hundreds or even thousands of years.
Recovering from Anorexia
After receiving proper eating disorder treatment in San Diego, the recovery process can begin. The first goal is always to get the body back to a healthy weight so that it can function properly, and there are no further health issues to worry about. During recovery, patients will also learn coping mechanisms for any mental problems that might be leading to their anorexia.
Recovery from anorexia is possible as long as the patient is willing to get help and make the necessary changes. With the proper eating disorder treatment in San Diego, almost all patients can lead a healthy life.
Eating Disorder Treatment in San Diego
Those suffering from anorexia will often only recover with the appropriate eating disorder treatment in San Diego. Testing is done to ensure there isn’t a medical condition for weight loss or inability to gain weight during a physical exam, lab testing, and psychological evaluation.
For extreme cases, hospitalization is required to adequately treat severe issues like dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, heart rhythm disturbances, and psychiatric problems. Some options for eating disorder treatment in San Diego may include outpatient treatment or specialized programs.
During treatment, anorexia patients will learn about proper nutrition and how to care for their bodies. A medical doctor will monitor caloric intake, and a dietitian will work to guide anorexic individuals through what it’s like to have regular eating patterns.
Anorexia treatment isn’t just physical, though. Mental health professionals also work with patients to deal with underlying issues that may be causing the behavior, including having a distorted idea of what they should look like after seeing unrealistic images in San Diego, childhood traumas, or self-esteem concerns.
