According to Dr C J John, senior psychiatrist at Medical Trust Hospital, anorexia can also cause changes to the brain due to a lack of nutrition.

The condition, he adds, needs to be treated with a multi-disciplinary approach. “A team of doctors and experts needs to provide well-structured care,” he says.

“A psychiatrist, a paediatrician in case the patient is underage, a nutritionist, a behavioural therapist, an endocrinologist, a general physician, and a team of nurses are among those part of the treatment.”

Experts note that anorexia, once more visible in Western countries, is now being reported in Kerala, especially in urban areas, with increasing frequency.

“A decade ago, I saw hardly one case every three years. Now at least four to six patients approach me in just a month,” says Dr Vivek Ullathil, consultant psychiatrist at Renai Medicity.

“Anorexia is mostly seen among those between 14 and 25 years of age. Social conditioning and the unhealthy practice of popularising thin bodies can be one reason for its rise among them. However, it is also part of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum and is associated with borderline personality disorders, too.”

Mood swings, stress, anxiety, extreme sensitivity and irritability when discussing food, self-harm, etc., are symptoms of the disorder.

If detected early before the person reaches dangerous levels of weight loss, treatment often provides positive results.

“It is important that parents, relatives, and friends can identify the problem early and seek professional help,” says Dr Vivek.

A person suffering from anorexia might constantly reject food, and if forced to eat, might purge it later. “They will also be physically active and extremely regimental about fitness. They might exercise more than two hours a day and strictly measure calorie counts,” says Dr Vivek.

“But not all who follow a strict diet or fitness regimen are anorexic. What we need to understand is that there are many body types, and we need to accept ours. The key point is that we need all the nutrients for a healthy body, which means consuming protein, fibre, carbohydrates, fats, and other components in a healthy way.”