Anorexia is one of the most serious eating disorders in existence. It is more common among women than men. In Norway, about 0.3 percent suffer from this disease. Worldwide, it is estimated that almost 70 million people live with some form of eating disorder. In anorexia, one tries to keep the weight as low as possible. Most people avoid eating food and are very afraid to put on weight. In a new, large collaborative study, researchers have analyzed nearly 2,000 images of the brains of people struggling with this disorder. And the pictures reveal disturbing conditions. According to the researchers, never before have such extensive changes in the brain been seen among people who struggle with various forms of mental disorders. The largest of its kind The new study is a collaboration between 22 centers for eating disorders worldwide, and is the largest of its kind. Together, they have collected brain scans from patients with anorexia. – The work has taken several years. But the unique material has helped us analyze the disorder in more detail than ever before, says Esther Walton. She has led the study and is employed by the Department of Psychology at the University of Bath. The researchers saw three important changes in the cerebral cortex in people with anorexia. All three were associated with reduction in size. When parts of the brain shrink, it is severe. It is believed that this involves the loss of brain cells, or the connection between these cells, the researchers write. Need someone to talk to? The helpline is Mental Health’s free, 24-hour helpline for anyone who needs someone to talk to. You can reach the Helpline on 116 123. Advice telephone for eating disorders – tel. 94817818 Counseling telephone for relatives in mental health – tel. 22491922 The Eating Disorders Association’s support telephone: 22 94 00 10 Alarm telephone for children and young people: 116 111 The worry telephone for adults and children: 810 03 940 Kirkens SOS: 22 40 00 40 The Red Cross’ telephone for children and young people: 800 33 321 Worse than for those with ADHD and OCD The results showed, among other things, that people with anorexia had between two and four times greater changes in the brain than people living with, for example, ADHD, depression and OCD. These changes most likely come in the form of people becoming thinner, ie a reduction in the body mass index (BMI). – It is the case that when it comes to severe underweight, as with anorexia, the whole body is slimmed down. Less body fat and substance also means less fat and substance in the brain, says Finn Skårderud to news. He is a psychiatrist, professor and expert on eating disorders. The psychiatrist believes that it is an important topic to draw attention to, as after the pandemic one sees an increase in various eating disorders. Finn Skårderud is not surprised by the findings of the new study. He says that a “slim” brain will be affected psychologically. Photo: Kari Nygard Tvilde / news Important with early help Skårderud says the findings in the study correspond to previous findings. – That anorexia is a mental disorder where the volume of the brain is affected more than it does in other mental disorders, is almost a matter of course. And the good news is that this will be normalized at normal weight. This is also something the new study confirms. For among people who were on the road to recovery, it was seen that the brain became “healthier”. Based on these findings, the researchers believe that it is very important that the help arrives early. Then perhaps long-term, structural brain changes can be avoided. – This is a good sign, because it indicates that these changes may not be permanent, says Esther Walton. Finn Skårderud thinks it is all well and good to focus on anorexia, but he emphasizes that we must not forget the other eating disorders, which are more common. – Most people who struggle with eating disorders are normal or overweight. Anorexia is one of the rarest conditions but gets a lot of attention. The more common diseases such as bulimia and emotional overeating are quickly ignored. Facts about anorexia Characterized by the fact that you are severely underweight and that you limit what and how much you eat. People with anorexia often experience intense fear of putting on weight. Many people feel that their body is large and thick even though they have a weight far below normal. It is common to deny both being underweight and the medical consequences of the condition. Most people who have anorexia keep the food, while some vomit if they think they have eaten too much. Some also have overeating episodes and lose the strict control of food intake. Many people overdo running or other forms of exercise to burn calories. Most people start starving to lose weight, but many eventually find that they are unable to eat; captured by the situation itself, they eat less and less. They lose control. One who has anorexia thinks about food and calories almost all the time. Many people experience a feeling of being stronger than others because they are able to control their needs (while healthy people give in to their desires and whims). Pushing the body down can also be a desperate attempt to be seen. Most people develop anorexia in their teens, but some go into anorexia at a later age, often in connection with dramatic things such as having children, getting divorced, experiencing death or being abused. Anorexia is the most deadly disorder in psychiatry. As professionals, we want to convey hope and optimism, but we must also be honest about the facts: The long-term course of eating disorders is not so good. About half of the eating disorder patients do not recover. They continue with symptoms or have / get other mental disorders. In a recent US study, only 31.4 percent of anorexia patients are healthy after nine years. The figures were better for bulimia patients after nine years: 68.2 per cent were healthy. In such a perspective, one must definitely consider it uplifting that after 20–25 years, 62.8 per cent of anorexia patients were healthy and correspondingly 68.2 per cent for bulimia. Source: Psychiatrist and professor of eating disorders Finn Skårderud.
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Sees marked changes in the brain in sick people – news Trøndelag
