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Anorexia nerviosa - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Anorexia: un trastorno alimentario

Definición:

Es un trastorno alimentario que lleva a que las personas pierdan más peso de lo que se considera saludable para su edad y estatura.

Las personas con este trastorno pueden tener un miedo intenso a aumentar de peso, incluso cuando están con peso insuficiente. Pueden hacer dietas, ejercicio excesivo u otros métodos para bajar de peso.

Ver también: bulimia.

Causas:

No se conocen las causas exactas de la anorexia nerviosa. Muchos factores probablemente estén relacionados. Los genes y las hormonas pueden jugar un papel. Las actitudes sociales que promueven tipos de cuerpos muy delgados también pueden contribuir.

Ya no se cree que los conflictos dentro de una familia contribuyan a éste u otros trastornos alimentarios.

Los factores de riesgo para la anorexia abarcan:

  • Tratar de ser perfeccionista o demasiado centrado en reglas.
  • Estar más preocupado o prestarle más atención al peso y la figura.
  • Tener problemas alimentarios durante la lactancia o la primera infancia.
  • Ciertas ideas culturales o sociales respecto a la salud y la belleza.
  • Tener una imagen negativa de sí mismo.
  • Tener un trastorno de ansiedad en la niñez.

La anorexia generalmente comienza durante los años de adolescencia o a principios de la edad adulta y es más común en mujeres, aunque también se puede ver en hombres. El trastorno se observa principalmente en mujeres de raza blanca, de alto rendimiento académico y que tienen familia o personalidad orientada hacia el logro de metas.

  • Reviewed last on: 4/18/2011
  • Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Treasure J, Claudino AM, Zucker N. Eating disorders. Lancet. 2010; 375(7914):583-593.

Attia E, Walsh BT. Behavioral management for anorexia nervosa. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:500-506.

Gowers SG. Management of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93:331-334.

American Psychiatric Association. Treatment of patients with eating disorders, third edition. American Psychiatric Association. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163(7 Suppl):4-54.

le Grange D, Lock J, Loeb K, Nicholls D. Academy for eating disorders position paper: The role of the family in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2009;43:1-5.

Fisher Ca, Hetrick SE, Rushford N. Family therapy for anorexia nervosa. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Apr 14; (4):CD004780.

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