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Last Updated: Dec 28, 2019
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Anorexia & Bulimia - How To Tackle Them?

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Dr. Lakshmi Prasad RavipatiPsychiatrist • 18 Years Exp.MD - Psychiatry, MBBS Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
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An eating disorder mostly appears when your food habits reach levels of extremity.
Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia are two main and the most common eating disorders found in men and women. One is the lower extreme while the other is the higher extreme in terms of food intake.

Anorexia

People who are affected with anorexia think of themselves to be very overweight in spite of actually being very slim and thin. Anorexia inflicted people consume less than a thousand calories per day. They exercise rigorously and try to find more ways to lose weight. They vomit a lot due to the insufficient diet and suffer more.

The treatment for anorexia nervosa generally includes a mix of mental treatment, and regulated weight gain program. An anorexia patient should seek treatment as early as possible. The best ways to deal with anorexia are:

-  Psychological Treatment
Various psychological treatments can be used to cure anorexia of different stages. They are- Cognitive analytic therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, interpersonal therapy, focal psychodynamic therapy. A family's response is also an important psychological factor. Proper encouragement and effort should be given.

-  Weight gain program
This measure will guide an anorexic patient to improve his diet habits and slowly gain weight. A patient is monitored carefully, traits are recognized and a likewise diet pattern is given.

Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is another category of an eating disorder. The main characteristic of this disorder is overeating at the highest level. Binge eating is observed, followed by attempts by the affected individual to lose weight. A bulimia patient is constantly trapped in the cycle of overeating and then thinking about losing weight.

Maybe you do not like the idea of binge eating and fear getting obese, but once affected by bulimia a patient cannot follow this and binge eats. Later, they adopt extreme measures for losing weight.

The primary methods to deal with bulimia are:

-  Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy or talk therapy includes examining your bulimia and related issues with an expert. It is proven that these sorts of psychotherapies restrict the symptoms of bulimia. The three modes of psychotherapy include- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, Family-based therapy and Interpersonal psychotherapy.


-  Medications
Medicines such as anti-depressants can be taken by bulimia patients along with psychotherapy. Prozac is a recommended and effective medicine.


-  Proper diet plan
For bulimia affected patients, having a properly balanced diet is very essential. A diet expert should be consulted, who will make the most essential food pattern for you. Undertaking a weight loss program is also recommended.

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia should be avoided, and you should know the best ways to deal with them.
 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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