Anorexia Nervosa is a disease that affect too many people every day. As much as 5% of all people show symptoms of anorexia, although far fewer numbers are actually diagnosed. Anorexics severely reduce their food intake to the point of emaciation, because they feel that they are fat and are obsessed with becoming thin. The problem is that the anorexic does not have a realistic image of her body in her mind, so she may still view herself as fat when in reality she is dangerously skinny. Yes, there is such a thing as too skinny! There are so many health risks asociated with anorexia. Here are just a few:
- lack of concentration
- hair loss
- heart failure
- kidney failure
- constipation
- monthly periods stop
All of these things, and many others, could happen to you if you choose to starve yourself. You even risk dying! My mom has a friend whose sister died of anorexia at age 40. So please, I beg you, keep eating! I myself have considered anorexia, but I'm so glad I never have, because I need my strength to do well in school and swimming. And guarantee I'm much happier than I would be if I were hungry all the time. I've seen a therapist and now I'm much more comfortable with my body. Even though I'm not a size 0. If you get help, such as talking to a therapist, you can feel better about yourself in a healthy way. Please take my advice - I've been in your same situation and I know what the best choice is. And anorexia is not the right one.
Other statistics:
- 85-95% of anorexics are women
- 10% of anorexics die of suicide or starvation
- 1 in 100 require long-term treatment.
- 1% of girls in Ghana scored highly on a test designed to diagnose anorexia. (It doesn't just affect Americans.)
If you are not anorexic, and are reading this simply to learn , I am going to provide information below. If you are anorexic and want to learn more about your disease, you might want to read this as well.
Causes:
- Pressure from the media and from peers. All around us, there are people we compare ourselves to, whether we realize it or not. The anorexic feels that she has to go to extreme measures to make herself look as perfect as everyone else.
- Family history. You have a higher chance of becoming anorexic if someone in your family has or has had the disease. Also, if you have pressure from a parent to lose weight, you are at a risk.
- Stress/traumatic events
- Personality. Perfectionists are likely to become anorexic because perfection is impossible, and since they can't come to terms with that, they have to resort to anorexia.
Symptoms:
- rapid weight loss/extreme thinness
- not eating in public/ never goes out with friends (in order to avoid situations where there will be food)
- excessive exercise
- counting calories
- cuts food into very small pieces/moves food around on the plate instead of eating it.
Treatment:
- Anorexia is a disease that derives from the mind, so treatment must include therapy. Some people have to attend long-term care facilities where they are re-introduced to food and counseled about their self-image. Patients have to be closely watched so they do not try to throw away or hide their food.
Thanks for reading this!
Sources:
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/routsocial/anorexia
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/rsmhealth/anorexia_nervosa
http://www.credoreference.com/entry/heliconhe/anorexia
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000362.htm#Expectations%20(prognosis)
