Nutrient Deficiencies & Eating Disorders: A Biochemical Imbalance? - Essay Sample

Introduction

People have the notion that nutrient deficiencies are due to an eating disorder. However, what you need to know is that nutrient deficiencies and eating disorders tend to go hand in hand, in most cases, like the anorexia nervosa, bulimia. Apart from that, in the development of both anorexia nervosa and bulimia the genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors play a role. According to studies previously done, there seems to be a biochemical imbalance with the population, which is anorexic. Most likely with most people tending to be severely Zinc deficient and others undermethylated. In the treatment of an eating disorder, the emotional component helps in retaining emotional triggers and thought patterns. A point to note is Anorexia and bulimia requires a keen individualized selected kind of nutrient therapy. Additionally, to successfully overcome it, intense psychotherapy, cognitive, or behavioral therapy is also needed. The paper is of a blog about nutritional deficiencies related to an eating disorder, Anorexia nervosa.

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Anorexia Nervosa

It is an eating disorder identified by the obsession of the food an individual eats and the weight they tend not to neglect. In that case, an individual with this eating disorder works on maintaining low weight and have a fear of gaining more weight. Anorexia affects women, and the statistics shows about 2% in their lifetime are affected (Yilmaz, Hardaway & Bulik, 2015). Alternatively is another fantastic statistic you need to know. Approximately 10 to 15% of those with Anorexia or bulimia tend to be male. It is a severe disorder as if you are suffering from Anorexia and you are of the age 15 to 24 there is a 12 times possibility you can die. However, myths never lack; there are misconceptions regarding the cause of anorexia nervosa.

Clinics are seen to also regard Anorexia as an addiction disorder that shows itself in persons undermethylated. In this case, such persons utilize food control; thereby master their want for that perfect body. The society has changed; today, the aspect of shape is linked to the pursuit of the ideal body thus increased problems of eating disorders to attain that particular body. The treatment calls for nutritive therapies with a combination of exceptional psychotherapy, with cognitive and behavioral therapy. The procedure lasts 6-9 months for patient recovery and to maintain wellness, the patient needs ongoing care. Anorexia often tallied with undermethylation. With most females suffering Anorexia and few males undermethylated.

Basic Facts on Eating Disorders

Statistics show in the U.S about 20 million women and some men about 10 million are suffering from an eating disorder (Yilmaz, Hardaway & Bulik, 2015). Apart from that, at least 50% meet the depression criteria. Eating disorders are an epidemic, and it is a severe mental illness, thus seen to be more prevalent than even other diseases like Alzheimer's or Autism.

Myths exist regarding eating disorders causes and also the best treatment modalities. Recovery to this eating disorder is possible, and you only need effective treatment.

In my perceptive, based on research done. Crucial nutrients to a patient suffering anorexia nervosa help in restoring vital nutrients. It restores the patients' mental and physical wellness. I would also recommend individualized and selected nutrient therapies in conjunction with traditional treatments to treat an eating disorder like anorexia nervosa.

How Would You Know an Onset of an Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders start in early adolescence; at this time, a child tends to be pressured on a diet by coaches, peers, or cultural influences. As early as at the age of six, a child can start having body dissatisfaction ideas leading to extreme dieting. Teens, on the other hand, at puberty, have the concept of the pursuit of the ideal body to the public and begin to diet. At this time of youth, what they lack to understand is the fact that the body is rapidly changing and growing thus not the suitable time to diet (Golden, Schneider & Wood, 2016). At adolescence, they may need about 2,500 calories a day. Teens that are anorexic tend to cut on the calorie amount to half in the name of dieting. Their bodies begin to lack the vital nutrients and begin to be hypoglycemic. In that state, they start craving for junk foods either high in sugars or salt. Consequently, from such starvation dieting, one develops an eating disorder in the instance of low nutrient levels that compromises the normality in cognitive functioning.

Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

An Eating disorder surfaces after the manifestation of nutrient deficiencies. Nutrient deficiencies result in a person lacking appetite, having constipation, chest pain, intestinal pain, anxiety, and sleeping issues. In the prolonging of diet, nutrient levels get to dangerously low levels causing the anorexia nervosa disorder to surface. One of the imbalances in Anorexia that is often seen is Zinc deficiency. It results in a person having a loss of appetite and with a profound sense of taste. A surprising fact is that in most cases, many adolescents having an eating disorder suffer it at the adolescent stage (Golden, Schneider & Wood, 2016). It is because at this time the Zinc is a vital element to them as it is at this juncture they grow, they develop, and hormones keep changing. A patient may be put on supplementation to assist them in gaining weight, regaining their sense of taste and appetite. However, taking Zinc does not result in the reversing of the patient state, but with medical supervision, the toxic zinc levels can be reached. Also, the other symptoms to look out for in an anorexic patient are the emotional and behavioral signs. A person suffering from anorexia nervosa can have such traits like:

• Skip meals frequently
• Not want to eat in public
• Most times make excuses for not eating
• Complains of being fat
• Social withdrawal
• Covering up in too much clothing
• Lie of how much they may have eaten
• Most times lack emotions
• Irritability
• Often check mirrors for seen flaws
• Having specific eating rituals like may spit food out after they chew

Epigenetics

With an Eating disorder of Anorexia nervosa, the other factor is epigenetics. The environment directly impacts our genes through a process known as DNA methylation process. It is a process that on genetic influences it may cause an eating disorder to occur as it turns on or off such forces. It is by the balance of methylation pathways that reverses the frequent urges in persons with an eating disorder. The balancing is attained by introducing nutrients that naturally have the body re-balance.

Studies prove the concerns on the role of epigenetics in anorexia nervosa. However, studies show a DNA methylation alteration on both general and gene-specific in anorexic blood (Yilmaz, Hardaway & Bulik, 2015). It claims malnourishment, turns down genes. If they are turned on, it helps an anorexic patient eventually gain back weight.

There are speculations concerning other epigenetic switches possibilities because it remains unknown. However, recent research proves much that more births of anorexic people tend to be in summer and spring. It is at these seasons that during pregnancy, vitamin D levels play a significant role. The area of Epigenetics retains a substantial promise for interventions development. The developments can serve to deal with epigenetic changes and turn on genetic action that is helpful. The eating disorder of anorexia nervosa has the likelihood of occurring due to complex multiple influences interaction. It is epigenetics that carries the potential to assist people to begin to have a clear understanding of its complexity.

It is of note that changes in peripubertal epigenetic have a probability of increasing the chance of an eating disorder. The women tend to be on the high risk unlike men because their sex hormone at specific loci alters the DNA methylation. In this way, it controls particular gene expression (Lain, Jonathan, Rudolf, Ulrike, 2010). Eating disorder maintenance could be as a result of changes in epigenetic that have people escape processes in physiology. It, therefore, underpins one's appetite and regulates their weight thus also cause the need to binge.

Finally, epigenetics gives a shine of hope in the future for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. All individuals should promote adaptive changes in epigenetics once they are in a changing surrounding. In that case, it is significant persons to initiate to what extent or if epigenetics is involved as that would help in the development of dietary approaches and clinical strategies that alter involved processes.

Conclusion

In summary, eating disorders are detrimental psychiatric states with high mortality and morbidity. Surprisingly, most people have the misperception that they are just disorders of the volition of which that is not valid. Eating disorders comprise of a genetic component. Research proves that genes actively play the role of explaining the underlying biology in such conditions. The main focus was anorexia nervosa. It is an eating disorder with low weight as the initial target when it comes to treatment. Based on statistics, a significant number of afflicted individuals tend to be women estimated to 90% (Yilmaz, Hardaway & Bulik, 2015). The onset of this eating disorder of Anorexia typically happens in adolescents. Symptoms vary from physical signs and behavioral symptoms. For instance; one can persistently restrict their food consumption, have a fear of weight gaining. Also, they can persistently have traits that interfere with the gain of weight and eventually have a body image that is distorted. For treatment, family-based therapy is the primary treatment and later has ongoing interventions for a full recovery. Epigenetics is the future for treating Anorexia because lately, these studies have become popular. The studies have attempted to prove that genetic factors also attribute to eating disordered behaviors. In that case, with epigenetic mechanisms of regulating gene functions through DNA methylation, it represses specific genes expression. It occurs in the defined type of cells like CNS neurons and adipose tissues within the peripheral tissues and gut thus altering metabolism and a person's feeding behavior.

References

Golden, N. H., Schneider, M., & Wood, C. (2016). Preventing obesity and eating disorders in adolescents. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20161649.Retrieved from: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/3/e20161649.abstract

Lain, C. C., Jonathan, M., Rudolf, U., Ulrike, S. (2010). Eating disorders, gene-environment interactions and epigenetics. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 35 (2011) 784-793. Retrieved from: https://www.epigenomicslab.com/wp-content/uploads/publications/2011%20-%20Eating%20disorders,%20gene-environment%20interactions%20and%20epigenetics.pdf

Yilmaz, Z., Hardaway, J. A., & Bulik, C. M. (2015). Genetics and epigenetics of eating disorders. Advances in genomics and genetics, 5, 131.Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4803116/