by Paul Lalley

Created on: May 30, 2008   Last Updated: May 31, 2008

We live in a society where thin is in and fat is definitely not where it's at. Each year, folks buy billions of dollars of diet foods and exercise equipment and try every weird fad diet that comes along. Now, for most of us, losing a little weight is fine. But for some, maintaining a thin body becomes an obsession. There are people who die every year because they literally starve themselves to death.

Anorexia
One of the most common eating disorders is anorexia nervosa, or anorexia for short. The name comes from the Latin words for "nervous loss of appetite." People with anorexia are repulsed by food and, so, they starve themselves. The causes of this condition are not well understood and, as a result, treatment is often very difficult.

The disorder is found most commonly in girls between the ages of 14 and 17, though it isn't uncommon to find men and older women suffering as well. The condition usually starts with a simple diet to lose weight. Quickly, the diet can turn into a refusal to eat any food because, in the mind of anorexic victims, they are never thin enough.

With little or no food intake, malnutrition sets in and imbalances in body chemistry can cause illnesses - everything from a simple cold to life-threatening infections - within a matter of weeks. Because the victim has depleted stores of vitamins and minerals, glands shut down. Often, in women, menstruation ceases and physical growth comes to a standstill. Bodyweight sometimes drops to one-half the anorexic's healthy weight. These people literally starve themselves, sometimes to death.

People who suffer from anorexia nervosa often have what experts call a "perfectionist personality." They're never satisfied with the job they've done, thinking it (and they) could always be better. Many physicians view this eating disorder as a dangerous mental illness that requires treatment - sometimes treatment in a hospital.

Treatment usually includes training in nutrition and the help of a trained psychiatrist or other professional counselor. The therapist works with the patient to build self-esteem and help the individual see his or her body in a realistic light. Anorexics do not see their own bodies the way others do. Their "body image," that is, the way they see their own bodies, is distorted. It often takes months and even years of psychological counseling to restore the anorexic's body image.

Anorexia is not something to fool with. It can be fatal. It is NOT a good way to lose weight. The physical and emotional

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>