Pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa is a complex system that involves various factors. The impacts of this condition in the communities globally require a deep understanding of the causes to help in treatment and prevention. However, the complicated interaction of the biological, social and psychological elements in every individual can contribute to the development of the condition. Studies show that genetics and brain functions are primary biological factors that lead to the growth of the eating disorder. However, psychological factors such as self-image, self-esteem, and obsession of individuals to have perfect bodies can lead to people becoming anorexic. Social factors also have equal contribution to the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa. The image and teaching provided by the media are some of the elements that shape how people think about themselves. The relationship with other individuals such as bullying may also contribute to some cases of anorexia. Thus, pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa involve the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is one of the conditions that affect many people globally. The condition can result in death in cases where there is no proper intervention. However, these interventions and possible prevention of the condition need to consider pathogenesis of anorexia. The development of an eating disorder involves biological, psychological and social elements. Biological factors involve genes and the functioning of the brain. Psychological elements include the perception of self-image and obsession to have the perfect body. Finally, social factors involve the relationship with other people, social teaching, and demands. The presence of such factors increases the chances of an individual suffering from the condition. The article considers the contribution of these factors in the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa.
Biological Factors
Studies show that biological factors are responsible for increasing chances of some individuals suffering from anorexia. The biological risks of anorexia range from genetics to the function of the brain and neurotransmitters. Analysis of these biological factors that increase the risk of anorexia provides an understanding of the complex factors leading to anorexia.
Genetics
Studies show that genetics of individuals play a significant role in increasing the threat of developing anorexia nervosa. The research considers the relationship of affected people and close relatives that have the same condition. In the analysis, scientist found that individuals who have parents or siblings suffering from anorexia have increased chances of suffering from the condition. Additionally, identical twins show high chances of suffering from anorexia together compared to fraternal ones. Therefore, the inheritance of genetics in family lines influences the possibility of some individuals suffering from eating disorder aiming to become slim (Pinheiro, Root " Bulik, 2009). These studies show that genes may be responsible for some of the cases of the eating disorder.
Despite the advances in showing the genetic factors, identification of genetic variants responsible for increased cases of anorexia is still not possible. The techniques used molecular genetics provide limited contributions to the understanding of inheritance of anorexia nervosa (Baker, Schaumberg " Munn-Chernoff, 2017). Analysis involving variations of the genes will be crucial in showing changes that increase risks of eating disorder. Despite these limitations, new technologies increase the chances of understanding genetic impacts. Moreover, analysis of the families and twins understanding of the genetic influence on the development of anorexia.
Alteration in Brain Functioning
Analysis of the pathogenesis of anorexia nervosa also shows that change in the functioning of the brain could be responsible for the development of the condition. The brain cells communicate using neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters act on the receptors cause effects. Some of the functions controlled by these chemicals include appetite, levels of energy and mood. Alteration in the concentrations or the way brain cells respond to these chemicals can have an impact on eating characteristics of an individual. Some scientist suggests that anorexic people experience dysregulation in the anterior ventral striatal pathway (Riva, 2016). Such occurrences create vulnerability in deregulation of appetite.
One of the neurotransmitters that can have effects on eating habits among anorexic people is serotonin (Dwarkasing et al., 2016). Studies show that there are alterations in the levels of serotonin for people suffering from anorexia nervosa. Anorexic people have lower levels of serotonin compared to individuals without eating disorder. The changes probably result from the low production of serotonin due to minimal food consumption. The system in the human body producing serotonin uses carbohydrates to manufacture 5-hydroxytryptophan. However, individuals who recover from eating disorder shows higher concentrations of serotonin than normal. Thus, development of anorexia involves the high production of serotonin leading to obsessive behaviors and anxiety. According to some scientists, anorexic people feel good while minimizing the amount of food they take since their bodies produce reduced amounts of serotonin. Therefore, the change in functions of the brain due to changes in the amounts of neurotransmitters lead to the development of anorexia.
Psychological Factors
The psychological elements also play important roles in predisposing people to risks of developing anorexia nervosa. Thinking behavior of individuals about themselves and the way they view others in comparison can lead to anxiety causing eating problems. Therefore, consideration of psychological elements in pathogenesis plays a fundamental role in understanding the growth of the condition.
Cognitive Factors
One of the factors that lead to a difference in risks of development of anorexia is the way people perceive themselves. Individuals who develop anorexia, self-perception about their body with the need of becoming thin. The individuals are in the constant comparison between their actual selves and false perception about society requirements. Thus, in these cases, anorexic people have a high probability of developing a negative attitude about themselves, though they may be having perfect body weight. They then begin to pursue how to obtain the ideal body according to their false perception. These individual develops obsessive behavior about becoming thin. Studies report that some of the affected individuals experience an internal voice that gives them anorexic comments (Pugh " Waller, 2017). Therefore, they seek ways to meet their psychological needs.
One of the ways through which these individuals can achieve their goals is to become conscious about what they consume. The need to reduce their weight due to their thoughts makes them consider the contents of every food. They start to limit the amounts of food they take. Therefore, the psychological need for false perfect body obtained through slimming forces these individuals to develop anorexia by limiting food consumptions.
Obsessive Compulsion
Another psychological factor that increases the risks for individuals to develop anorexia is obsessive compulsion disorder. Anorexia patients develop an obsession to lose weight by limiting food intake (Shpakou, Kovalevskiy, Klimatckaya Zaitseva " Janocha, 2017). People experiencing a compulsion to take action in their thoughts are at great risk of suffering from anorexia. The development of compulsion among anorexic individuals becomes evident when they decide to reduce their weight despite the difficulties of the required actions.
The obsessive nature of the potentially anorexic people also affects the progression of the condition. They constantly think about their self-perception, weight loss, and type of food they consume. Such obsession makes it hard for these people consider the contents of the foods and their effects on body weight. The process of checking food contents become a habit and continuously limit the amounts of food that these people can consume. Some individual may engage in purging after eating to ensure they do not increase body mass.
Social Factors
The social elements may also contribute to increased risk of individuals suffering from anorexia besides psychological and biological factors. The cultural and social demands affect the way people view themselves. The images portrayed in the communities as perfect influence how people think about themselves. These elements can contribute to increased risk of an individual suffering from anorexia. The difference in social support influences how people think about themselves that can be a precursor for eating disorders.
Media Technology
Media is one of the social elements that increase the risk of people developing anorexia. Images portrayed as perfect on the media involve the use of thin people. In most cases, modeling women used in the adverts have lean bodies with specific body features. Other individuals especially women in the societies gain the idea that thin bodies are ideal (White et al., 2016). The problem increases further with people using social media that praise thin individuals for having perfect shape and image (Park, Sun " McLaughlin, 2017). Therefore, some people develop negative self-image about themselves. In the move to change their nature, these individuals try to limit the amounts of food that they consume.
Education
The contribution of media to increased development of anorexia nervosa is also evident in their education. In most cases, media provide information aim to improve the diet of people by reducing their weight. The advice includes considering the contents of every food that people consume in the community to improve their health. However, information from the media fails to show individuals who should focus on reducing their weight using these diets. Individuals in the societies continuously engage the diets whey to have healthy body mass. Therefore, media contribute to increased levels of negative self-image in the societies and weight reduction diets leading to anorexia.
Teasing and Bullying
Teasing and bullying that occur in the societies lead to some cases of anorexia. These cases primarily involve children who develop negative self-image about themselves and depression. Increased awareness about the physical appearances may force the individual to take corrective and risky actions such as avoiding taking foods. Besides, there is a chance of developing anorexia while trying to gain acceptance from peers. Studies already confirm that bullying increases chances of children suffering from anorexia (Copeland et al., 2015). Therefore, the perspective of weight in the society couple with teasing and bullying increases chances of people suffering from anorexia.
Professions
Some of the professions in the societies also increase the chances of individuals becoming anorexic. Ballet and modeling are some of the activities that require people to maintain low weight to enhance their abilities (Herbrich, Pfeiffer, Lehmkuhl " Schneider, 2011). In these professions, the society puts a lot of pressure on the individuals to the perceived perfect body weight that enables them to be effective in achieving the goals. Thus, people involved in these activities are continuously conscious of the type of food they take. Some may go without taking their meals with the aim of maintaining a perfect body mass. Hence, the social requirements for these professions may lead to individuals becoming anorexic.
Conclusion
The causes of anorexia nervosa involve the complex relationship of biological, psychological and social factors. Understanding the cause of anorexia among patients require analysis of these three categories to provide comprehensive understanding. The presence of some of these factors increases chances on an individual suffering from anorexia by causing an increased restriction on food consumption. Some individuals may even develop the idea of purging after eating to avoid the possibility of gaining weight. Therefore, a complex relationship involving biological, psychological and social factor leads to the development of anorexia nervosa.
References
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