Friday, September 15, 2006
Anorexia - Self Starvation
Anorexia, sometimes called anorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder (disease) where people actually starve themselves to prevent weight gain. Anorexia is actually a negative mental heath issue. Someone suffering from this disease is much skinnier than they should be, but has convinced him or herself that they are overweight. A person with anorexia is usually about 15-20% below that person's normal body weight.
Anorexic people have an extreme fear of becoming fat. It is this fear that fuels the development of self starvation. Many of those who suffer from it will have weird eating habits including refusing to eat in front of other people. Many times if the sufferer will make big meals for other people to hide their problem and then refuse to eat any of it. Unfortunately, many times it is society's twisted view of, "the perfect image," that will drive people to become anorexic. Most people who have anorexia, are in a position where they must remain thin, because they are in the public eye. Such rolls as this would include: modeling, dancing, being in theater or film, or the being in some athletic event.
Although, anorexia mainly affects adolescent women, there are many males with this disease as well. About 2.5-3 million women suffer from anorexia, while at the same time another 200-300 thousand men suffer from it as well. Unfortunately, about 10% of the population with anorexia will end up dying from their condition. Most of the men who suffer from anorexia are elderly, usually 60-80 years of age. Some of the physical symptoms of anorexia are: anxiety, brittle skin, weakness, being obsessed about calorie intake, having shortness of breath, and in specifically women, the loss of at least three menstrual cycles in a row.
Unfortunately, there are many consequences of having an anorexic lifestyle. Such consequences include: low body temperature, shrunken bones, irregular heartbeat, mineral loss, permanent stagnation of normal growth, or the development of osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones). Women who are pregnant are supposed to gain between 25-30 pounds. Telling this to an anorexic person would sound to them like gaining over a hundred pounds. An anorexic, pregnant woman can have serious trouble conceiving a child or carrying a baby to full term. Also not receiving the proper portions and varieties of food intake, can seriously put your unborn child at risk.
Anorexia is mental health issue and is treatable by properly trained professionals. Please, if you suffer from anorexia or know of a friend or loved one who does, get the help you or the one you wish to help needs before it is too late.
Anorexic people have an extreme fear of becoming fat. It is this fear that fuels the development of self starvation. Many of those who suffer from it will have weird eating habits including refusing to eat in front of other people. Many times if the sufferer will make big meals for other people to hide their problem and then refuse to eat any of it. Unfortunately, many times it is society's twisted view of, "the perfect image," that will drive people to become anorexic. Most people who have anorexia, are in a position where they must remain thin, because they are in the public eye. Such rolls as this would include: modeling, dancing, being in theater or film, or the being in some athletic event.
Although, anorexia mainly affects adolescent women, there are many males with this disease as well. About 2.5-3 million women suffer from anorexia, while at the same time another 200-300 thousand men suffer from it as well. Unfortunately, about 10% of the population with anorexia will end up dying from their condition. Most of the men who suffer from anorexia are elderly, usually 60-80 years of age. Some of the physical symptoms of anorexia are: anxiety, brittle skin, weakness, being obsessed about calorie intake, having shortness of breath, and in specifically women, the loss of at least three menstrual cycles in a row.
Unfortunately, there are many consequences of having an anorexic lifestyle. Such consequences include: low body temperature, shrunken bones, irregular heartbeat, mineral loss, permanent stagnation of normal growth, or the development of osteoporosis (weak or brittle bones). Women who are pregnant are supposed to gain between 25-30 pounds. Telling this to an anorexic person would sound to them like gaining over a hundred pounds. An anorexic, pregnant woman can have serious trouble conceiving a child or carrying a baby to full term. Also not receiving the proper portions and varieties of food intake, can seriously put your unborn child at risk.
Anorexia is mental health issue and is treatable by properly trained professionals. Please, if you suffer from anorexia or know of a friend or loved one who does, get the help you or the one you wish to help needs before it is too late.
