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Adolescent Anorexia: Causes and Treatment Approaches

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Adolescent Anorexia: Causes and Treatment Approaches

Anorexia nervosa is a complex illness in adolescent females characterized by low weight, nutritional deficiencies, and marked psychological symptoms. It is defined by fear of obesity, alteration of images of the body, and serious limitations of feeding. Recognition of the causes of anorexia and its successful management is critical to its recovery: Adolescent Anorexia: Causes and Treatment Approaches.

Patient Profile

Emma J., a 16-year-old adolescent, has been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. She weighs 92 lbs (41.7 kg) and has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 15.8, placing her in the underweight category. Emma fails to eat, takes fewer than 800 calories a day, and does not take foods with lots of calories.

She mainly takes small parts of fruits and vegetables and exercises beyond the normal requirement (2-3 hours). She does not eat in front of people and often steps on the scale to get upset when she gains even a pound.

Possible Causes of Anorexia

Anorexia is influenced by psychological, social, and biological factors. Emma’s perfectionism and low self-esteem contribute to her restrictive eating patterns (Suhag & Rauniyar, 2024). Social media reinforces unrealistic beauty standards, leading her to compare herself to thin influencers.

Additionally, her home environment plays a role, as her parents emphasize high achievement and unknowingly reinforce food-related anxieties. A family history of anxiety disorders and eating disorders increases her risk of developing anorexia.

Treatment Plan

Dietary Intervention

A registered dietitian will come up with a lifting meal plan where she will progressively increase her calorie intake to achieve the recommended number of calories while still providing the necessary nutrients to the body. Protein, carbohydrates, and heathy fats will be recommended for her to take in order to be healthy again. The fear of food will be conquered through professional advice from a qualified nutritionist (Kim, 2020).

Individual Therapy

Psychological treatment will be in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for unhealthy thoughts regarding body image and foods. The mindfulness therapy will assist her in counseling on anxiety problems, besides working on her acceptance skills (Nakao et al., 2021).

Biological Therapies

If Emma has anxiety or depression, then a physician may give selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) fluoxetine. Calcium and vitamin D supplements will help reverse bone loss.

Family Therapy

Family-based treatment (FBT) will involve Emma’s parents in meal support and emotional guidance, helping to create a positive home environment.

Conclusively, further rehabilitation will be improved by dietary meals, speech and occupational therapy, medications, and parental and family care.

References

Kim, J. Y. (2020). Optimal diet strategies for weight loss and weight loss maintenance. Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome, 30(1), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.7570/jomes20065

Nakao, M., Shirotsuki, K., & Sugaya, N. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for management of mental health and stress-related disorders: Recent advances in techniques and technologies. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 15(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-021-00219-w

Suhag, K., & Rauniyar, S. (2024). Social media effects regarding eating disorders and body image in young adolescents. Cureus, 16(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.58674

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Question

Week 4 Discussion

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Initial Post Instructions
As a medical professional or counselor, there are times when you might encounter adolescents who are suffering from anorexia or bulimia. Come up with a patient profile including the following:

As a follow-up to your initial post, your response post can propose a treatment plan.

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