anorexia Flashcards
what is SCOFF
a screening questionnaire for eating disorders
score of 2+ is likely to have ED
what are the questions in SCOFF
Do you make yourself Sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
Do you worry you have lost Control over how much you eat?
Have you recently lost more than One stone (14 pounds or 6.35 kg) in a three month period?
Do you believe yourself to be Fat when others say you are too thin?
Would you say that Food dominates your life?
what is anorexia nervosa
an eating disorder characterised by the fear of gaining weight/being fat
this results in avoidance of food and restriction of calorie intake
what is the BMI in anorexia
anything below 17.5
aetiology
societal pressure to be thin
genetics
trauma/life events
precipitating factors
puberty (change in hormones and body can trigger AN)
dieting
increased exercise
stressful life events
symptoms of anorexia
cold intolerance, cold hands/feet constipation bloating delayed puberty short stature amenorrhoea dry skin fainting/hypotension langugo hair early satiety weakness/fatigue osteoporosis body checking
are symptoms reversible?
yes if adequate nutrition and weight is achieved
perpetuating factors
delayed gastric emptying - feeling full can be interpreted as fat
narrowed focus/can’t see bigger picture
obsession - body checking, social media
how may patients avoid calorie intake
diets not touching food dislikes/allergies eat slowly avoid social occasions where they will have to eat try to be the person who has eaten the least at the table gum smoking
how may patients get rid of unwanted calories
vomiting spitting overexercise cooling laxatives pain killers for exercise diabetics may not take enough insulin
what are the physical consequences of starvation
poor repair heart damage bone loss fertility reduction anaemia infections seizures/arrhythmias due to neurochemical imbalance caused by vomiting
treatment of anorexia
immediate refeeding interpersonal therapy specialised family work medications are not as effective at low weight SSRIs olanzapine to prevent intrusive thoughts
how long does it take to recover from anorexia
on average it can take 6-7 years
