Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Bone Metabolism of Women
Discussion of the Topic
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is one of the eating disorders and is commonly called Anorexia. A person having AN could have abnormal body weight, and such individuals excessively evaluate themselves based on weight and shape. Most of them are not happy about their weight. I have a friend who typically forces herself to vomit whenever she feels she is gaining weight to control her body weight and shape. Sometimes she would take a low-fat yogurt and fruit as breakfast and coffee only for lunch. I sometimes wonder since she is already slim, and she feels she is gaining weight, and I think she is probably killing herself slowly. The research indicates that AN mainly affects women with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 2.2 percent (Keski-Rahkonen et al.). Therefore, I want to research the effects of such behavior on bone metabolism in women.
Focus
My research focuses on the effect of AN on women’s bone metabolism in bone mineral density, bone mass, bone compartments, bone strength, and bone parameters or thickness.
Interest
I already know about AN because it can significantly reduce bone mass in women due to chronic insufficient calories in the body, which could lead to bone fractures in adult life (Lawson et al.). However, I want to research more on the effects of AN on bone metabolism and understand it better.
Significance
The topic is worth considering since it contributes to the academic field, psychiatry field, and understanding more about AN. Besides, it will be a great source of information to my friend in understanding on effects of AN.
Research Plan
I will use secondary sources of data such as peer-reviewed articles, publications, credible websites, books, and journals to collect my research data.
Bibliography
Miller, Karen K., et al. “Medical findings in outpatients with anorexia nervosa.” Archives of internal medicine 165.5 (2005): 561-566.
Singhal, Vibha, et al. “Impaired bone strength estimates at the distal tibia and its determinants in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.” Bone 106 (2018): 61-68.
Bredella, Miriam A., et al. “Distal radius in adolescent girls with anorexia nervosa: trabecular structure analysis with high-resolution flat-panel volume CT.” Radiology 249.3 (2008): 938-946.
Lawson, Elizabeth A., et al. “Hormone predictors of abnormal bone microarchitecture in women with anorexia nervosa.” Bone 46.2 (2010): 458-463.
In this article, Lawson presents studies, including the effect of anorexia nervosa on women’s bone structures and strength. The study concludes that AN’s nutritional deficiencies result in bone loss, which confirms the Lawson’s argument that AN could cause bone fractures, particularly in women. The study is crucial for my research in providing me with information on AN’s relation with bone loss and fractures in women.
Keski-Rahkonen, Anna, et al. “Epidemiology and course of anorexia nervosa in the community.” American Journal of Psychiatry 164.8 (2007): 1259-1265.
In this article, Keski-Rahkomen present the course of Anorexia nervosa in the community. The results of the study indicate that AN predominately affects women. They used questionnaires and diagnostic interviews to collect data on life prevalence, five-year recovery rates of AN, and incidence rates. The study confirms Keski-Rahkomen’s argument that there are limited AN detected cases through the health care system. The article is crucial in my research as it provides information on the prevalence of AN and women’s recovery rates from AN.