People with anorexia nervosa have a distorted relationship with the dimensions of their body. A study by the team at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at LWL University Hospital at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has shown that, in addition to the conscious body image, what is known as the body schema - unconscious body awareness - is also distorted. It normally adapts to the current situation.
Humorously, the January weight-loss trend has become known as janorexia. But janorexia is no joke. Eating disorders should never be taken lightly, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder. It is also associated with a host of physical complications, such as bone problems (osteoporosis), liver damage, heart disease and permanent infertility, to list a few.
January being the month of many of these get-thin-quick diets, it can also be a gateway to eating disorders.
Studies going back to the 1990s support the link between restrictive dieting and eating disorders, especially among young people. For example, a study published in
A new study of adults hospitalized for anorexia nervosa strengthens the case for making rapid weight gain a part of efforts for a comprehensive treatment plan, researchers report.
The researchers analyzed data regarding 149 adult inpatients with anorexia nervosa in the Johns Hopkins Eating Disorders Program.
The findings stand in contrast to long held beliefs that patients would not tolerate a faster weight gain plan because it would be too traumatic.
In a report in the
International Journal of Eating Disorders, the researchers say a majority of patients not only tolerated the regimen, they also met their weight gain goals in weeks rather than months, they would recommend the program to others, and they would be willing to repeat it, if needed.