Anorexia (symptom)

Anorexia is a medical term for a loss of appetite. While the term in non-scientific publications is often used interchangeably with anorexia nervosa, many possible causes exist for a loss of appetite, some of which may be harmless, while others indicate a serious clinical condition or pose a significant risk.

Anorexia
SpecialtyEndocrinology
SymptomsNot wanting to eat, no hunger, dizziness, weakness

Anorexia is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Anorexia is not to be confused with the mental health disorder anorexia nervosa. Because the term 'anorexia' is often used as a short-form of anorexia nervosa, to avoid confusion a provider must clarify to a patient whether they are simply referring to a decreased appetite or the mental health disorder. Anyone can manifest anorexia as a loss of appetite, regardless of their gender, age, or weight.

The symptom also occurs in other animals, such as cats,[1][2] dogs,[3][4] cattle, goats, and sheep.[5] In these species, anorexia may be referred to as inappetence. As in humans, loss of appetite can be due to a range of diseases and conditions, as well as environmental and psychological factors.[2][4]

Etymology

The term is from Ancient Greek: ανορεξία (ἀν-, 'without' + όρεξις, spelled órexis, meaning 'appetite').[6]

Common manifestations

Anorexia simply manifests as a decreased or loss of appetite. This can present as not feeling hungry or lacking the desire to eat.[7] Sometimes people do not even notice they lack an appetite until they begin to lose weight from eating less. In other cases, it can be more noticeable, such as when a person becomes nauseated from just the thought of eating. Any form of decreased appetite that leads to changes in the body (such as weight loss or muscle loss) that is not done intentionally as part of dieting is clinically significant.[8]

Physiology of anorexia

Appetite stimulation and suppression is a complex process involving many different parts of the brain and body by the use of various hormones and signals. Appetite is thought to be stimulated by interplay between peripheral signals to the brain (taste, smell, sight, gut hormones) as well as the balance of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the hypothalamus.[8] Examples of these signals or hormones include neuropeptide Y, leptin, ghrelin, insulin, serotonin, and orexins (also called hypocretins). Anything that causes an imbalance of these signals or hormones can lead to the symptom of anorexia. While it is known that these signals and hormones help control appetite, the complicated mechanisms regarding a pathological increase or decrease in appetite are still being explored.[8]

Common causes

Drugs
Main article: Anorectic

Other
  • During the post-operative recovery period for a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy, it is common for adult patients to experience a lack of appetite until their throat significantly heals (usually 10–14 days).[18]
  • Altitude sickness
  • Significant emotional pain caused by an event (rather than a mental disorder) can cause an individual to temporarily lose all interest in food.
  • Several Twelve-step programs including Overeaters Anonymous tackle psychological issues members believe lead to forms of deprivation
  • Psychological stress
  • Experiencing grotesque or unappealing thoughts or conversations, or viewing similar images
  • Being in the presence of unappealing things such as waste matter, dead organisms, or bad smells

Complications

Complications of anorexia may result due to poor food intake. Poor food intake can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, anemia and nutritional deficiencies. These imbalances will worsen the longer that food is avoided.[8]

Sudden cardiac death

Anorexia is a relatively common condition that can lead patients to have dangerous electrolyte imbalances, leading to acquired long QT syndrome which can result in sudden cardiac death. This can develop over a prolonged period of time, and the risk is further heightened when feeding resumes after a period of abstaining from consumption.[19]

Refeeding syndrome

Care must be taken when a patient begins to eat after prolonged starvation to avoid the potentially fatal complications of refeeding syndrome. The initial signs of refeeding syndrome are minimal, but can rapidly progress to death. Thus, the reinitiation of food or oral intake is usually started slowly and requires close observation under supervision by trained healthcare professionals. This is usually done in a hospital or nutritional rehabilitation center.[19]

Management

Anorexia can be treated with the help of orexigenic drugs.[20][21]

"Anorexia" vs "anorexic" vs anorexia nervosa

Anorexic is a description of somebody with the stereotypical thin, frail, malnourished appearance. The appearance is classically associated with anorexia, although in rare cases do patients end up becoming anorexic. An anorexic or anorectic is also a description given to substances that cause anorexia for weight loss purposes.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by food restriction due to the strong desire to remain thin. It is considered a mental health diagnosis where people see themselves as obese regardless of their weight or appearance.[22] The person does not necessarily exhibit anorexia as a symptom in their quest to restrict food intake.[22]

References
  1. Chan, Daniel L. (November 1, 2009). "The Inappetent Hospitalised Cat: Clinical Approach to Maximising Nutritional Support". Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. 11 (11): 925–933. doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2009.09.013. PMID 19857855. S2CID 20998698.
  2. "Anorexia". Cornell Feline Health Center. Cornell University. 16 October 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  3. Carrozza, Amanda; Marks, Stanley (November 20, 2018). "NY Vet: The Best Approach to Treating Inappetence". American Veterinarian. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  4. Llera, Ryan; Downing, Robin. "Anorexia in Dogs". VCA Animal Hospital. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. Jubb, Tristan; Perkins, Nigel. "Inappetence/Inanition". Veterinary Handbook for the Livestock Export Industry. Australian Livestock Export Corporation, Meat & Livestock Australia. Archived from the original on July 19, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  6. Psyhogeos, Matina (14 April 2016). Page Publishing Inc. (ed.). English Words Deriving from the Greek Language. ISBN 978-1682134283.
  7. "Loss of Appetite - Digestive Disorders". Merck Manuals Consumer Version. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  8. Jameson, Larry (2016). Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders. pp. 506–510. ISBN 978-0-323-18907-1.
  9. "Loss of Appetite". www.cancer.org. Retrieved 2021-10-27.
  10. "Loss of appetite". Canadian Cancer Society. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27.
  11. Taylor AK, Lebwohl B, Snyder CL, Green PHR (17 September 2015). "Celiac Disease". GeneReviews®. PMID 20301720. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  12. "Pinworms in Kids & Adults: Pictures, Symptoms & Treatments Viewer Comments and Reviews: Hypothyroidism - Symptoms - Patients Share Their Knowledge on eMedicineHealth". eMedicineHealth. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  13. Exton, M. S. (1997). "Infection-Induced Anorexia: Active Host Defence Strategy". Appetite. 2 (3): 369–383. doi:10.1006/appe.1997.0116. PMID 9468766. S2CID 10465902.
  14. Murray, M. J.; Murray, A. B. (1979). "Anorexia of infection as a mechanism of host defense". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 32 (3): 593–596. doi:10.1093/ajcn/32.3.593. PMID 283688.
  15. Winston, Anthony P (March 2012). "The clinical biochemistry of anorexia nervosa". Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: International Journal of Laboratory Medicine. 49 (2): 132–143. doi:10.1258/acb.2011.011185. PMID 22349551. S2CID 207193656.
  16. Aguilera, A; Selgas, R; Codoceo, R; Bajo, A (November 2000). "Uremic anorexia: a consequence of persistently high brain serotonin levels? The tryptophan/serotonin disorder hypothesis". Peritoneal Dialysis International. 20 (6): 810–6. doi:10.1177/089686080002000648. PMID 11216590. S2CID 1731116.
  17. Langhans W. (October 2000). "Anorexia of infection: current prospects". Nutrition. 16 (10): 996–1005. doi:10.1016/s0899-9007(00)00421-4. PMID 11054606.
  18. "Home Care After Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy". Archived from the original on December 12, 2013.
  19. Jáuregui-Garrido, B.; Jáuregui-Lobera, I. (2012). "Sudden death in eating disorders". Vascular Health and Risk Management. 8: 91–98. doi:10.2147/VHRM.S28652. PMC 3292410. PMID 22393299.
  20. Thomas, David R. (February 2006). "Guidelines for the Use of Orexigenic Drugs in Long-Term Care". Nutrition in Clinical Practice. 21 (1): 82–87. doi:10.1177/011542650602100182. ISSN 0884-5336. PMID 16439773.
  21. Viswambharan, Vishal; Manepalli, Jothika N; Grossberg, George T (February 2013). "Orexigenic agents in geriatric clinical practice". Aging Health. 9 (1): 49–65. doi:10.2217/ahe.12.83. ISSN 1745-509X.
  22. "NIMH » Eating Disorders". www.nimh.nih.gov. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
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