The term anorexia is of Greek origin: a (?, prefix of negation), n (?, link between two vowels) and orexis (??????, appetite) thus meaning a lack of desire to eat. A person who is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa is most commonly referred to with the adjectival form anorexic. The noun form, "anorectic" is generally not used in this context and usually refers to drugs that suppress appetite.
Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually occurs in teenage girls, but it can also occur in teenage boys, and adult women and men. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They lose a lot of weight and are terrified of gaining weight. They believe they are fat even though they are very thin. Anorexia isn't just a problem with food or weight. It's an attempt to use food and weight to deal with emotional problems.
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an irrational dread of becoming fat coupled with a relentless pursuit of thinness. People with anorexia go to extremes to reach and maintain a dangerously low body weight. But no matter how much weight is lost, no matter how emaciated they become, it’s never enough. The more the scale dips, the more obsessed they become with food, dieting, and weight loss.
The person suffering with Anorexia may be abnormally sensitive about being perceived as fat, or have a massive fear of becoming fat -- though not all people living with Anorexia have this fear. They may be afraid of losing control over the amount of food they eat, accompanied by the desire to control their emotions and reactions to their emotions. With a low self-esteem and need for acceptance they will turn to obsessive dieting and starvation as a way to control not only their weight, but their feelings and actions regarding the emotions attached. Some also feel that they do not deserve pleasure out of life, and will deprive themselves of situations offering pleasure (including eating).
Causes of Anorexia Nervosa
Culture: Women in the U.S. are under constant pressure to fit a certain ideal of beauty. Seeing images of flawless, thin females everywhere makes it hard for women to feel good about their bodies. More and more, men are also feeling pressure to have a perfect body.
Some experts feel that demands from society and families could possibly be underlying causes for anorexia. For many individuals with anorexia, the destructive cycle begins with the pressure to be thin and attractive. A poor self-image compounds the problem.
Genetic Factors: Anorexia nervosa occurs eight times more often in people who have relatives with the disorder. However, experts do not know exactly what the inherited factor may be. In addition, anorexia nervosa occurs more often in families with a history of depression or alcohol abuse.
Background Many risk factors have been implicated in the development of anorexia nervosa. Little is known about their relative contributions, nor in most cases is it clear whether they are specific to anorexia nervosa or risk factors for all eating disorders or for psychiatric disorder in general.
A variety of psychological, genetic, biological, developmental, and societal factors may contribute to developing this syndrome. Anorexia nervosa may be encouraged because of our society's emphasis on thinness, especially in women.Some evidence suggests differences in brain chemicals in those who develop anorexia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Someone Considered Anorexic...?
By: catherine857 | 14-06-2008
If they only try and eat less than 200 calories and doesn't eat sometimes but does eat?. I know someone that does that and i was jw about it or are you only anorexic if you only consume so many calories a day and don't eat at all. She is obsessed with working out too and when she has a bad day she beats her self up for it then ususally tries not to eat. I haven't said anything to her about it but other people have and she just says nothing is bothering her and there's nothing wrong but i'm worried about her and i think she looks good no matter how she is. People have even told her she looks good and has lost some weight i just want her to be happy and not think that way about herself. BC if you have to think that way about getting yourself to lose weight and for guys to like you it isn't healthy and there's not too many guys that are going to like twiggy girls that look fragil you'd be afraid of breaking or something.
Can you lose weight from being bulimic
By: aleighartificial | 26-03-2008
Can you lose weight from being bulimic or just maintain your weight?
Preventing Eating Disorders in your Kids
By: Chris | 23-12-2007
How can you make sure your soon to be teen daughter doesn't develop an eating disorder? I see her friends and they're all concerned with how they look and how thin they are etc. If you ask me, half of them are already on their way to eating disorders. I don't want my daughter to be obsessed like that.
Top Model - latest season
By: JenniferL | 16-12-2007
Has anyone noticed that despite the some celebrities trying to fight the media's size zero fad, the girls of Tyra Banks' tv show, Top Model look like starving eating disorder patients?
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