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An 18-year-old student from Kannur, Kerala, named Sreenanda, died after following a strict diet schedule as recommended through YouTube. She was studying at Pazhasi Raja NSS College, Mathur, as a first-year undergraduate student. Besides, she tried to cope with the health ailments emerging from these food patterns. According to the doctor who treated her, Dr Nagesh Prabhu, a physician at the Thalassery Co-operative Hospital, Sreenanda was suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder in which a patient has a strong fear of gaining weight.
She was almost starving and was on a water-only diet. I guess the troublesome eating pattern started around six months ago, and one of my colleagues advised her people to seek further help to fix the issue. However, guess they weren't aware of its seriousness and downplayed it as a condition of a youngster not having enough food.
Dr. Nagesh Prabhu, Physician, Thalassery Co-operative Hospital
Causes and Risk Factors
Though the causes of anorexia nervosa are poorly understood, they have various reasons, among them are:
Genetic influences: There might be a development of the risk due to a family history of eating disorders.
Psychological manifestations: Perfectionists with an anxious side or low self-esteem are more prone to developing the disease.
Environmental influences: Societal standards about thinness and unrealistic bodily standards supported by communities are contributing factors.
Health effects
Anorexia nervosa has several health consequences, which are malnutrition due to lack of essential nutrients in the body due to the restriction of calories, heart diseases caused by electrolyte disturbance leading to abnormal heart rhythms, and prolonged starvation ending in multi-organ failure as the essential organs become dysfunctional. Not treating anorexia nervosa at the right time and in the right manner will pose a life threat.
Anorexia Nervosa is not purely an eating disorder. It's also a psychological condition, and therefore, the patient should have taken psychiatric treatment a long time ago.
Dr. Nagesh Prabhu, Physician, Thalassery Co-operative Hospital
Treatment techniques
The successful treatment for patients suffering from anorexia nervosa typically includes psychotherapy, which deals with cognitive behavioral therapy, helping the person overcome their dysregulations in thought and adopting modification of behavior; nutrition therapy involved balanced eating counseling for achieving a healthy weight; and medication giving antidepressant or other psychotropic drugs to sustain treatment of underlying mental health problems. Hospitalization: Generally, in critical cases, inpatient care is needed to monitor and stabilize the patient's health condition. Recovery chances increase significantly with early intervention.
The Role of Social Media and Internet Content
Propagation of unverified diet advice on YouTube is dangerous in the following ways:
Misinformation: Misinformation would promote unhealthy trends.
Impact on vulnerable groups: Sensitive individuals who are keen on instant relief would practice poorly advised commands without any risk.
Therefore, it is paramount for individuals to consult their physicians before experimenting with drastic dietary changes and exercise caution in the use of such internet resources with well-informed judgment.
Reference:
1. Mayoclinic : Anorexia Nervosa https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia-nervosa/symptoms-causes/syc-20353591?utm_source=chatgpt.com
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)
