Anorexia Nervosa is a condition where one is obsessed with their weight, shape and a control over food to the point of becoming too thin and unhealthy and yet deny anything is wrong.
Losing weight is the never-ending goal via refusing to eat, exercise, diuretics, laxatives and vomiting. This behavior can lead to severe health problems and death.
Physical Symptoms:
- weight loss of 15% below average or more
- too thin, bony appearance
- abnormal blood counts
- fatigue, dizziness, fainting
- brittle nails, osteoporosis
- hair thins, breaks easily or falls out
- body becomes covered with a soft "peach fuzz"
- in females, menstruation stops or skips often
- constipation
- dry skin
- very sensitive to cold
- irregular heart beat, low blood pressure
- dehydration
- erosion of tooth enamel from vomiting
Emotional & Behavioral Symptoms:
- refusal to eat or eats very little
- denial of being hungry when one should be
- excessive exercise
- lack of emotions
- difficulty concentrating
- preoccupied with food
- constantly makes excuses for not eating
- has an unusual list of "safe" or "unsafe" foods
- develops unusual eating rituals
- weighs food
- counts calories of everything eaten
- vomits after eating
- weighs self often
- checks body image in mirror often
- wears big or bulky clothes to hide "fat" body
- often complains about being fat
Biological Suspects:
- Genetics- women with sisters or mothers with Anorexia are more likely to develop it themselves. Studies of twins suggest a genetic link as well
- 95% of anorexia sufferers are female
- Anorexia Nervosa is most common in Caucasians
- Serotonin is suspected of playing a role
- Low self esteem
- Poor body image
- Obsessive Compulsive traits
- Drive for perfectionism in endeavors- school, sports, body
- Fear of growing up/maturing into an adult and thus becoming independent/leave family behind
- Dancers, ballerinas and models are pressured to be thin
- Athletes such as runners, wrestlers, figure skaters and gymnasts are pressured to keep their weight down
- Role models in the media (television, magazines, films) are thin
Science suggests that certain people are susceptible or vulnerable to becoming anorexic and that some life event triggers it:
- Compliments on weight loss during a diet cause the person to become obsessed with losing more without having a healthy goal or target weight
- Ridicule or teasing about gained weight or about current weight
- Coach or parent suggest weight should be lost to excel at sports, dance or other endeavor
- Puberty causes some people to become negatively sensitive about their changing weight and shape. Anorexia is most like to start during teenage years but can start at any age.
- Transitions such as a new home, school, job, breaking up of a relationship, or death/illness of a family member or loved one causes a strong need to regain control over own life
Today, many schools and doctors are monitoring Body Mass Index (BMI) and letting the parents know when their child's too-high or too -low weight endangers their health. Some countries fashion houses are implementing rules for their models regarding minimum age and BMI.
Here is a link for you to calculate your BMI:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm
For a listing and some pictures of famous people who have or have died from anorexia/bulimia click on http://brainsyoursmineours.blogspot.com/2009/01/famous-people-with-eating-disorders.html#links
Click on this link to read about the treatment of anorexia and bulimia http://brainsyoursmineours.blogspot.com/2009/01/anorexia-bulimia-treatment.html#links
Be aware.
Intervene.
Save a friend.
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