Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia is an eating disorder primarily affecting adolescent girls and young women, characterized by pathological fear of gaining weight or ‘becoming fat’. It is the third most common chronic illness among teenagers. 90% of 12-17 yr old girls suffer from anorexia and 20% of girls with serious eating disorders die.  

There are two types of anorexia:

• restricting where you restrict yourself from calories
• purging where you lose weight through vomiting and laxative

Causes of Anorexia:

 

Symptoms

Anorexic food behavior signs and symptoms

• Dieting despite being thin
• Obsession with calories, fat grams, and nutrition
• Pretending to eat or lying about eating
• Preoccupation with food
• Strange or secretive food rituals

Anorexic appearance and body image signs and symptoms

• Dramatic weight loss

• Feeling fat, despite being underweight

• Fixation on body image

• Harshly critical of appearance

• Denial that you’re too thin

• Purging signs and symptoms

• Using diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics

• Throwing up after eating

  

   

  Treatment and how to seek help

One of the most successful treatment centers in the world that specializes in eating disorders is the Westwind Recovery Center. Their program is for women only, and treats all types of eating disorders. What makes them unique is that they work with each person setting individual goals, so that you are a full partner in your treatment plan. You can follow this link to the Westwind Eating Disorder Recovery Center to learn more, and see if they may be right for you. Anybody whose life is being affected by an eating disorder, regardless of its perceived severity, deserves access to support and treatment. Your local doctor, or eating disorders association should be able to help you find out about what options are available and which one may benefit you the most. Some options available include counselors, nutritionists, psychologists, psychiatrists, or other health professionals.

Myths  

• Anorexics do not eat any junk foods
• People with anorexia are incurable,
• All anorexics are thin or emaciated

 For more information go to:

https://anorexia.gov/