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Anorexia nervosa is a devastating and potentially deadly disorder. An estimated 7 million American women suffer from eating disorders. It is on the rise among teenage girls. About 90% of the cases are female. Studies show that approximately 25% of college age women have or have had some form or severity of anorexia or bulimia to some extent. This number is disturbing. Society is partly to blame. It portrays beauty as being only skin deep and skin and bones.
Anorexia means "without appetite". People with anorexia nervosa are obsessed with thinness. They literally starve themselves to achieve that goal. They are also extremely conscious of calorie and fat content in food. They will not eat anything with fat in it. Bulemics do and then purge themselves by vomiting, but anorexics simply don't eat. They also exercise excessively, may take diet and fluid pills and abuse laxatives to try to make the food pass right through their digestive systems. This is very dangerous and can lead to medical problems and even death. Statistics show that nearly 10% of people with anorexia literally starve themselves to death.
Even confronted with their thin looking bodies, anorexics don't see themselves as thin, they still think they are overweight. Anorexia may be diagnosed when significant body weight has been lost and no medical condition is the cause and when the person's attitudes and behaviors about food are excessively focused. Anorexia and bulimia are both classified as psychological disorders. Researchers believe that as many as 50% of women with anorexia and 75% of women with bulimia suffer from clinical depression and low self esteem. It is also found that many of these women come from dysfunctional families with histories of alcoholism and physical or sexual abuse.
Anorexia nervosa also has serious medical consequences, including delayed physical growth and sexual maturation. There can be problems with the heart due to unbalanced electrolytes, liver and kidney damage, and damage to the nervous system, gastrointestinal problems, depression, and abnormal hair and skin conditions.
Treatment of anorexia has to involve mental as well as physical care. Medical intervention is necessary depending on the severity of the case. Antidepressants may be prescribed. There is nutritional counseling and phsychotherapy. But, sadly, even with years of counseling about 20-25% of anorexics are still severely underweight. Menstrual irregularity and depression are common problems that remain in adulthood of an anorexic person.
The person most often denies even having a problem and is in complete denial. Anorexia and bulimia is said by many of the afflicted women to be an escape and/or a self punishment. Like recovering from any disorder or addiction, there are times of weakness and temptation to fall back into old habits. Most often this occurs when the person feels depressed. Addictions are most often at their strongest and the addict at their weakest when the person is depressed.
While recovering from anorexia or bulimia can and usually does require outside help, experts say it is often up to the woman to begin the healing process. She has to learn to love herself. There has to be self acceptance for this healing to take place. And for physical healing to take place, there first has to be emotional and mental healing. Women need to learn to practice good nutrition. Women need to not view food as their evil enemy. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet will not only NOT make you fat or gain weight, it, along with a regular exercise program, will make you as strong and healthy and fit and beautiful as you can be. It is also recommended to seek strength in numbers and in God. Support groups are very successful, to know you are not in it alone. Faith and prayer life can ward off depression. Don't be afraid to get help. You are not alone. It could mean your life.
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