Anorexia is a symptom , not a disease.
By bbabita
@bbabita (20)
India
March 22, 2007 4:49am CST
Anorexia is a symptom of most of the diseases , and is the cause of many diseases. Though the person want to eat , he has aversion to food, and he is unable to eat , this disturbs his immunity and makes the peson susceptilble to lot many of infectious diseases.
How can we overcome this problem of anorexia , in the most simple way .
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Actually, it's both.
Anorexia as a symptom is when a disease causes you to not want to eat anything and therefore you don't gain weight. Another symptom commonly mistakenly referred to as anorexia, is cachexia. In cachexia, the patient is eating, but is still unable to gain weight.
Anorexia as a disease is a psychological disorder where the person creates their own aversion to the food. It's not that they shouldn't physically have an appetite due to some other problem, instead their body image makes them lose their appetite and forcefully starve themselves. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to rid the planet of this problem.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
25 Mar 07
If someone is exhibiting cachexia, it is a symptom so the disease itself needs treatment. For example, perhaps the intestines don't get a chance to do their part in digestion and absorption due to diarrhea. If the cause of the diarrhea is treated, the victim will once again gain weight.
@bbabita (20)
• India
24 Mar 07
It seems to be very much true. Anorexia is very much different from cachexia, which is due to various diseases,
If a person is cachectic ie. he eats but does't gain weight , also have no desire to eat , though hungry , has nauseating feeling on the sight of food, or can eat only a mouthful , which fills up to his throat , what may be the cause and how can we handle such problem.
@trinihd (996)
• United States
22 Mar 07
It's true. Anorexia is indeed a symptom of other problems. I think those would be mainly emotional problems, but I am no expert. And I think that it is not very simple to overcome because most people do not want to admit having emotional problems. And the first step to healing is to admit you have a problem. But it is not insurmountable, once the person has a family or support system with people who can recognise and deal with the problem in a manner that affirms the person's self-worth and does not denigrate them. Some people can be tactless and I believe this is a problem that requires very delicate handling so that no further damage would be inflicted.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
24 Mar 07
In some cases, they must actually be forcibly fed first and brought up to a healthy weight. Then they are able to think more clearly when they are nourished, and treatments are more likely to work. A good support system is needed, either that or a treatment center.
@rposta07 (240)
• United States
19 Apr 08
wow this is an interesting discussion. I guess i had cachexia and never knew it! By the way you guys describe it, thats definately what i had! Thanks! I had never heard of this until i read this discussion! I mean, i am better now, but i used to be that way...
