Anorexia Nervosa
Definition:
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating order. An eating disorder is where you’re eating habits are disturbed. Eating disorders often lead to dramatic weight loss, since sufferers often have a distorted view of their body. People with anorexia have a desire to be thin, and because they generally believe they are ‘fat’ anorexia are very dangerous. Eating disorders become a huge part of patients day. They often think about their weight and worry constantly about their calorie intake. Anorexia takes over sufferers lives. Anorexia is an eating disorder where sufferers don’t want to eat. They are often afraid to admit that they are hungry, and even when they are they try to avoid eating. Anorexia sufferers will also exercise excessively and obsessively count all that calories that they consume.
Anorexia Nervosa is an eating order. An eating disorder is where you’re eating habits are disturbed. Eating disorders often lead to dramatic weight loss, since sufferers often have a distorted view of their body. People with anorexia have a desire to be thin, and because they generally believe they are ‘fat’ anorexia are very dangerous. Eating disorders become a huge part of patients day. They often think about their weight and worry constantly about their calorie intake. Anorexia takes over sufferers lives. Anorexia is an eating disorder where sufferers don’t want to eat. They are often afraid to admit that they are hungry, and even when they are they try to avoid eating. Anorexia sufferers will also exercise excessively and obsessively count all that calories that they consume.
Discussion:
Anorexia is a big part of our society. Studies shows teenagers are most likely to develop eating disorders, with females being at more risk of developing it than men. Anorexia is not always about wanting to be skinny, as many may think. In some people, Anorexia is developed when they feel as if they have no control over their lives. They then turn to losing weight, intense exercise and healthy eating so they can feel like they are controlling some aspect of their loves. For other people, the weight loss comes from a need to be better. Anorexia can also come from things like depression, loneliness and a pressure to be perfect. There is no set trigger for developing an eating disorder like anorexia, but some of the factors that may lead to it are media, problems in relationships, family issues, and genetic factors, feeling like they have no control over their lives, unable to cope with things like stress, grief and challenges in life. People with anorexia are usually perfectionists and overachievers. The reason for this is because these type of people are often very critical and aim to make themselves the best that they can be.
Anorexia is a big part of our society. Studies shows teenagers are most likely to develop eating disorders, with females being at more risk of developing it than men. Anorexia is not always about wanting to be skinny, as many may think. In some people, Anorexia is developed when they feel as if they have no control over their lives. They then turn to losing weight, intense exercise and healthy eating so they can feel like they are controlling some aspect of their loves. For other people, the weight loss comes from a need to be better. Anorexia can also come from things like depression, loneliness and a pressure to be perfect. There is no set trigger for developing an eating disorder like anorexia, but some of the factors that may lead to it are media, problems in relationships, family issues, and genetic factors, feeling like they have no control over their lives, unable to cope with things like stress, grief and challenges in life. People with anorexia are usually perfectionists and overachievers. The reason for this is because these type of people are often very critical and aim to make themselves the best that they can be.
Statistics:
Anorexia is a very common mental illness, and is most prevalent in teenagers. Roughly 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder in the USA alone. Anorexia is very dangerous and is the result of 12 times more deaths than other causes of deaths for females aged 15-24. Over half of all female teenagers use unhealthy methods of losing weight, such as skipping mela, smoking, vomiting and fasting. 53% of 13 year old females are say they are unhappy with their bodies, with that number increasing to 78% by the time they are 17%.
Anorexia is a very common mental illness, and is most prevalent in teenagers. Roughly 24 million people suffer from an eating disorder in the USA alone. Anorexia is very dangerous and is the result of 12 times more deaths than other causes of deaths for females aged 15-24. Over half of all female teenagers use unhealthy methods of losing weight, such as skipping mela, smoking, vomiting and fasting. 53% of 13 year old females are say they are unhappy with their bodies, with that number increasing to 78% by the time they are 17%.
Symptoms:
There are many different symptoms for Anorexia Nervosa, but some of the more common ones are;
· Fear of putting on any weight
· Obsessive calorie counting
· Avoiding a wider range of food
· Not wanting to eat, avoids eating
· Not admitting that they are hungry
· Over exercising
· Weighing obsessively
· Chills
· Avoiding social situations
· Think that they are fat even though others tell them they aren’t
· Dieting despite already being skinny
· Not eating in public
· Dramatic weight loss
· Harshly critical of themselves
There are many different symptoms for Anorexia Nervosa, but some of the more common ones are;
· Fear of putting on any weight
· Obsessive calorie counting
· Avoiding a wider range of food
· Not wanting to eat, avoids eating
· Not admitting that they are hungry
· Over exercising
· Weighing obsessively
· Chills
· Avoiding social situations
· Think that they are fat even though others tell them they aren’t
· Dieting despite already being skinny
· Not eating in public
· Dramatic weight loss
· Harshly critical of themselves
Effects:
Some of the physical effects anorexia can have are;
· Brittle hair and nails
· Dry or yellowing skin
· Irregular heartbeat
· Difficulty concentrating
· Unable to remember things
· Developing bone problems such as osteoporosis
· Severe mood swings
· Lack of energy
· Headaches
· Fainting
· Tooth decay/ gum damage
· Bruises easily
· Growth of fine hair all over the body
· Low blood pressure
Some of the physical effects anorexia can have are;
· Brittle hair and nails
· Dry or yellowing skin
· Irregular heartbeat
· Difficulty concentrating
· Unable to remember things
· Developing bone problems such as osteoporosis
· Severe mood swings
· Lack of energy
· Headaches
· Fainting
· Tooth decay/ gum damage
· Bruises easily
· Growth of fine hair all over the body
· Low blood pressure
Treatments:
There are many steps to recovering from any eating disorders. First, the sufferer needs to recognise that they have a problem and go talk to someone about it. These 2 steps are probably the most difficult, since people will often feel as if something is wrong with them and be ashamed about it. This can stop them from going to talk to someone. The next step is to seek professional help. Each case of anorexia will be treated differently, depending on the severity of the case. First, the severity of the anorexia needs to be assessed. Some anorexia sufferers with be hospitalized immediately because of malnourishment or suicidal thoughts. If patients are not hospitalized they will be sent to a dietician or nutritional counsellor, who will talk to them about healthy eating and proper nutrition. A diet plan will also be developed for patients. All anorexia sufferers will also be sent to a psychologist or a counsellor, so that the root of the anorexia can be discovered and dealt with.
There are many steps to recovering from any eating disorders. First, the sufferer needs to recognise that they have a problem and go talk to someone about it. These 2 steps are probably the most difficult, since people will often feel as if something is wrong with them and be ashamed about it. This can stop them from going to talk to someone. The next step is to seek professional help. Each case of anorexia will be treated differently, depending on the severity of the case. First, the severity of the anorexia needs to be assessed. Some anorexia sufferers with be hospitalized immediately because of malnourishment or suicidal thoughts. If patients are not hospitalized they will be sent to a dietician or nutritional counsellor, who will talk to them about healthy eating and proper nutrition. A diet plan will also be developed for patients. All anorexia sufferers will also be sent to a psychologist or a counsellor, so that the root of the anorexia can be discovered and dealt with.
Services:
The butterfly foundation:
Contact: (03) 9822 5771
Location: Australia
What does the butterfly foundation do?
· The helpline offers support and advice to people who are suffering from an eating disorders.
· Advice to friends and family members of sufferers.
· Answers about eating disorders
· Helps people who have body image issues.
Eating Disorders Foundation Victoria:
Contact: 1300 550 236
Location: Victoria
What does The Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria do?
· Provides support and advice about all aspects of eating disorders.
· Works with schools to educate about, prevent and treat eating disorders
· Helpline that helps anyone suffering from an eating disorder.
· Detailed website to provide information on eating disorders