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2004/05/08, 06:36 AM
The following information was obtained from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).
Anorexia Nervosa has four primary symptoms:
*Resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height
*Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat” even though underweight.
*Disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight.
*Loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.
Warning Signs of Anorexia Nervosa:
-Dramatic weight loss.
-Preoccupation with weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting.
-Refusal to eat certain foods, progressing to restrictions against whole categories of food (e.g. no carbohydrates, etc.).
-Frequent comments about feeling “fat” or overweight despite weight loss.
-Anxiety about gaining weight or being “fat.”
-Denial of hunger.
-Development of food rituals (e.g. eating foods in certain orders, excessive chewing, rearranging food on a plate).
-Consistent excuses to avoid mealtimes or situations involving food.
-Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury--the need to “burn off” calories taken in.
-Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
-In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary concerns.
Anorexia nervosa involves self-starvation. The body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally, so it is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy. This “slowing down” can have serious medical consequences.
Health Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa:
-Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure, which mean that the heart muscle is changing. The risk for heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
-Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones.
-Muscle loss and weakness.
-Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
-Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness.
-Dry hair and skin, hair loss is common.
-Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm
Statistics About Anorexia Nervosa:
-Approximately 90-95% of anorexia nervosa sufferers are girls and women (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).
Between 0.5-1% of American women suffer from anorexia nervosa.
-Anorexia nervosa is one of the most common psychiatric diagnoses in young women (Hsu, 1996).
-Between 5-20% of individuals struggling with anorexia nervosa will die. The probabilities of death increases within that range depending on the length of the condition (Zerbe, 1995).
-Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.
-Anorexia nervosa typically appears in early to mid-adolescence but can appear at any age.
It's important to know that just because a person is underweight does not mean that they have an eating disorder.
It's also important to know that not everyone suffering from anorexia will display all the warning signs.
If you think that you or someone you love may be suffering from anorexia (or any other eating disorder) you can get more information at www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
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2004/07/05, 02:37 PM
I have a lot of those warning signs and even my family and friends (and a few people here) say I might have a disorder- but I know I don't. A lot of girls are like that, especially teenagers and pre-teens, and it's not always disorder, is it? Can't we just be weirdoes who are just a little too obsessed with getting fit, it's not like we're all mental cases- some yes, yes yes yes yes yes, but a few are just concerned with their appearence... right??
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2004/07/05, 02:43 PM
Well, best way to tell is to get to a doctor and ask, right? Can't hurt, and since this is a very serious disorder you are always better off checking it out. Sometimes it is hard to see when we have difficulties as we think we are fine and it takes people we love and professionals to clue us in. Your right, you could be very enthusiastic about your health - but there are specific differences in that and the disorder. Good luck to you!
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Veda
MISERY IS OPTIONAL
***When you are up to your ears in trouble, try using the part that is not submerged.
***The difference between a dream and a goal is a plan.
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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