Essay, Research Paper: Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa can be defined as self-starvation leading to a body weight 15% normal. This disease is also accompanied with hyperactivity, hypothermia, and amenorrhea. Hypothermia is when the body's natural insulation, fat, is no longer there and the victim is always cold. Amenorrehea is when a woman misses at least three menstrual cycles, also due to the loss of excess fat.
There are 7 million women aged 15 to 35 suffering with an eating disorder. Many of these women have anorexia nervosa. Most people with anorexia nervosa are young women, although a small percentage of men also suffer from the disease. Anorexia nervosa usually begins as an innocent diet. The person may also begin to exercise frantically in an attempt to burn off calories. Usually, after the anorexic has lost the desired amount of weight they still feel fat and aren't happy with their body, so they continue to dieting. The most frightening aspects of this disorder are that not only does it affect the anorexics body; it also affects their mind. For some reason, anorexics continue to feel fat even when they're bone thin. The individual usually experiences an overwhelming fear of gaining weight or getting fat regardless of the person's actual size and weight. Anorexics also continuously deny the seriousness of their condition and health.
This disease usually begins during puberty when a young persons body begins to develop and grow. Many times young adults are uncomfortable with their body and feel like they're fat because they grow so much in a short period of time. They wish that they could stay the size that they are and think that the shape and size of their body directly affects their happiness.
There are many ways to identity an anorexic. Often, you will notice that they continue to diet even though they are overly thin. The individuals also have strange, ritualistic eating patterns. They usually cut up their food into tiny pieces and chew them over and over before they swallow. Anorexics often wear baggy, loose clothing to hide their body. They try their best to avoid questions about their body.
There are many causes for the disorder but it tends to vary from person to person. A lot of times it is because they are raised in an overachieving family who expects their kids to be perfect in all aspects of their life. They also may be having social problems and think that the cause of the problems is their weight. They think that if they are thinner they will have more friends and people will like them more. The biggest thing blamed for the disorder is probably TV, movies, and magazines. Young people look at the "perfect", thin bodies of models and actresses and feel like they have to look the same way to be attractive in others eyes. The thing they don't seem to understand is that usually models and actresses bodies are abnormal. The average person's body isn't made to look that way.
There are several ways to treat anorexics. The main thing the anorexic needs to realize is that they are not fat. This is much harder than it actually seems. Regaining their normal weight and eating pattern is the first priority in treatment. The next step is to get the anorexic to regain confidence in herself. If the case is severe, anorexics are put into an inpatient program. They usually last 12 to 16 weeks and a full recovery will take a further 18 months. In the most severe cases, anorexics have a feeding tube placed in their throat so their body can get the nutrients it needs to live. Sometimes, there is nothing that


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