Term paper on Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa Essays

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Anorexia is an eating disorder that usually strikes women between the ages of

fifteen and thirty-five. An estimated one thousand females will die each year

from anorexia. About eighty percent of females suffer from a sub clinical eating

disorder and twenty percent will turn into full-blown anorexics in their

lifetime. These are statistics that we know of. Anorexia can be hidden very well

by many that suffer from it; therefore there are many cases we do not know of.

Anorexia is a disorder in which preoccupation with dieting and thinness leads to

excessive weight loss. The individual may not realize that weight loss or

restricted eating is a problem. (Internet Mental Health www.mentalhealth.com).

Anorexia may not be noticed in the early stages because it often starts as an

innocent diet. They often become hyperactive because they exercise frantically

in an attempt to burn calories to lose weight. Even though the anorexic is

emaciated, she still feels “fat” and wants to hide her “ugly, fat body”.

A victim does not need to appear underweight or even average to suffer any signs

or symptoms of anorexia. Many men and women with eating disorders appear not to

be underweight, but this does not mean they suffer any less or are in any less

danger. This is why in later and more dangerous stages; family members may not

notice the disease because the anorexic usually wears layered and baggy clothes.

(www.somethingfishy.com). Presence of a low self-esteem is the most common

element in anorexia nervosa. Stress, anxiety and unhappiness can also be leading

factors in an anorexic life. Anorexia is their way of dealing and coping with

the negative things going on in their life. Most people with eating disorders

share certain personality traits, low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness and

a fear of becoming fat. People with Anorexia tend to be “too good to be

true.” They rarely disobey, keep their feelings to themselves, and tend to be

perfectionists, good students, and excellent athletes. Some researchers believe

that people with anorexia restrict food, particularly carbohydrates, to gain a

sense of control in some area of their lives. They have followed the wishes of

others in their lives, and they have not learned how to cope with the problems

typical of adolescence, growing up, and becoming independent. Controlling their

own weight offers two advantages in their eyes; first they can take control of

their bodies and secondly, gain approval of others. Eventually they become out

of control, becoming dangerously thin. (Microsoft® Encarta 98 Encyclopedia).

Victims suffering with Anorexia get a sense of power out of their eating

disorder. It is not uncommon to find an anorexic that feels high after periods

of starvation. This is due to their feelings of inadequacy. Their poor self

image and perception leads to feelings of guilt, they feel like they never do

anything right and nothing they ever do is enough. Starvation is an

accomplishment in their eyes, something they can do right. They also feel that

their life would be better if they could lose weight, or that more people would

like them if they lost weight. Anorexics feel a need to control physical and

emotional surroundings. In this way eating disorders are a negative coping

mechanism, used to control emotions or to keep them suppressed. It feels easier

to think about food, food intake, hunger, planning meals or avoiding them,

instead of dealing with their emotions. Eating disorders can have a numbing

effect, and can give victims a feeling of power over their emotions. (Mind &

Body- Signs and symptoms- Something Fishy Website on Eating Disorders) Another

major reason why women develop anorexia nervosa is societal pressures. In our

society today there is an obsession with being thin in order to be beautiful.

The waif look was recently popular causing many people to want to look like the

models in magazines. Genetic factors can also play a role in anorexia. Eating

disorders appear to run in families. Female relatives are most often affected.

Although genetic factors may play a role in the development of anorexia, other

influences play a role such as behavioral and environmental. A recent study

found that mothers who are overly concerned about their daughter’s weight and

physical attractiveness might put the girls at increased risk of developing an

eating disorder. Also girls with eating disorders often have a father and

brothers who are overly critical of their weight. (Eating Disorders-Decade of

the Brain www.mediconsult.com). The most famous known case of Anorexia is

probably that of Karen Carpenter, who died from heart failure resulting from

Anorexia Nervosa. This disease can be defined as self-starvation leading to...

1. The Harvard Medical School Mental Health Letter, May 1998. “Male
Anorexia.” Internet Mental Health (www.mentalhealth.com). America Online. 2.
“Eating Disorders-Decade of the Brain.” www.mediconsult.com/eatdisorder/.
America Online. 3. “Mind and Body- Signs and Symptoms- Something Fishy Website
on Eating Disorders.” www.somethingfishy.com. America Online. 4. “Anorexia
Nervosa.” Wellness Web Homepage www.wellweb.com. America Online. 5.
“Anorexia Nervosa,” Microsoft® Encarta® 98 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1997
Microsoft Corporation. You should cite this paper as follows:

MLA Style
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