What causes people to be anorexic? How can I help a friend struggling with anorexia nervosa?

Friendships make life more meaningful. In fact, friendships that are stable and healthy are necessary for our happiness and living a long life, according to research. 

That is why when we find a friend for life, we invest in and maintain our relationship with them, regardless of the hurdles that life throws at us. 

Witnessing a friend struggle with an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa and being there to help them conquer its challenges would make your friendship stronger and stand the test of time. 

What puts people at risk for eating disorders like anorexia? 

Anorexia nervosa or commonly referred to as anorexia is a kind of eating disorder where one has abnormally low body weight, an extreme fear of gaining weight and an unrealistic view of weight. 

Behaviors of people with anorexia include utmost efforts to manage their weight and their body’s appearance to the point that they are not able to carry out their day to day lives. These behaviors include: 

• Putting heavy restrictions on the amount of food they eat;
• Trying to lose weight by exercising too much;
• Reducing the amount of food that they digest by exploiting laxatives, enemas, diuretics or by vomiting after meals; 

Despite these efforts in losing weight, they still have trouble getting rid of the fear of putting on weight. 

Although anorexia is related to food intake, the issue is not in food itself, but in one’s inability to cope with emotional problems in a healthier way. The person with anorexia relates their self-worth to their low weight. 

Recent statistics show that: 

• About 0.9% of females and 0.3% of males in the US are affected by anorexia. 
• A little more than half of those with anorexia also meet the criteria for another mental disorder. 
• The three eating disorders ( anorexia, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder) are associated with an anxiety disorder. 

Although the direct cause of anorexia is not fully known, it is believed that a combination of environmental, psychological and biological factors are at play. 

• Environmental factors include society’s perceived approval and preference towards thinness. Young women are especially at risk for pressure to keep up with societal standards to have and maintain low weight. 

• Psychological factors include showing traits of being obsessive-compulsive, where there is a deep need to achieve perfection, fueled by anxiety, and the coping they know is to try controlling their weight.

• Biological factors include some genetic predisposition towards having a more sensitive and a more perfectionist attitude. 

How can you support a friend with anorexia? 

• Be there as a social support and companion. 

Simply being there with your friend, especially after they have received their diagnosis and while they are seeking treatment, will help them feel connected and not lonely. Research has shown that the presence of a friend has protective factors against anxiety. 

• Arm yourself with knowledge about anorexia treatments and anorexia complications. 

When food deprivation has reached its peak, a person with anorexia becomes at risk for complications such as malfunction of the heart and lack of electrolytes in the body. They might experience muscle and bone loss, kidney problems and anemia. Reading up on anorexia complications and treatment may help you talk to your friend about their symptoms, being compliant with their treatment and keeping their appointments with their health care provider.

Your friend must be undergoing a lot of stress after their diagnosis, and you being there for them helps them manage stress better. You can be a big part of your friend’s motivation as they journey to process their emotions, learn healthier coping skills, and finally beat anorexia. 

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