On November 6, another meeting of the Mental Health Club took place. The theme of the session was “Anorexia Nervosa: Psychological, Medical, and Social Aspects,” and it was led by Professor Viktoriia Harbuzova.
Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder of unknown etiology characterized by an individual’s preoccupation with their body weight and shape, while simultaneously denying the severity of their low body weight. Its prevalence may reach up to 4% among women and about 0.3% among men. Individuals with this condition are reported to have an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of their own body, which prevents them from recognizing the seriousness of their condition.
A detailed presentation on this topic was prepared by student Sofiia Pinchuk.
The meeting covered the causes and consequences of anorexia nervosa. Despite the increasing incidence of this disorder—partly driven by modern fashion trends and dietary standards—its etiology remains multifactorial and not fully understood. It is believed that a number of factors may contribute to its development, including:
Genetic and biological factors (heredity, hormonal and metabolic characteristics);
Psychological and personality factors (perfectionism, certain ways of expressing emotions, as well as the coexistence of other mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders);
Social and environmental factors (history of abuse or mistreatment, and the influence of societal beauty standards, particularly through social media).
Great interest was shown in questions concerning the dangers of anorexia and the possibilities for its treatment.
