Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder of self-starvation, which manifests itself in an extreme aversion to food and can cause psychological, neurological, physiological, sociological and behavioral problems. It almost exclusively affects adolescent girls, with symptoms involving a refusal to eat, large weight loss, a bizarre preoccupation with food, hyperactivity, a distorted body image and cessation of menstruation. Although the symptoms can be corrected if the patient is diagnosed and treated in time, about 10-25 percent of anorexia nervosa patients die, usually after losing a least half their normal body weight.

Today many scientists are looking into possible causes for the onset of an eating disorder. The most prevalent and influencing factor is the media and society's view. They act as a controlling presence for susceptible individuals. The socioculture pressure on today's adolescent and young women to be thin and attractive also play an important role in the development of eating disorders. Thinness in today's society is associated with self-control, attractiveness, intelligence, happiness, wealth and success. The media, fashion, and the diet industry exploit this myth by bombarding us with products and services designed to push us towards losing weight. As a result, it is not surprising to find that adolescents who are undergoing uncontrollable body changes and the onsets of new emotional and sexual drives seek dieting in order to enhance their sense of self-control and acceptance by others.

Anorexia nervosa patients typically come from white, middle to upper-middle class families that place heavy emphasis on high achievement, perfection, eating patterns and physical appearance. A newly diagnosed patient often is described by her parents as a "model child," usually because she is obedient, compliant, and a good student. Although most teenagers experience some feelings of youthful rebellion, people with anorexia usually do not outwardly exhibit these feelings. Psychologists theorize that the patient's desire to control her own life manifests itself in the realm of eating, the only area, in the patient's mind, where she has the ability to direct her own life.

In striving for perfection and approval, a person with anorexia may begin to diet in order to lose just a few pounds. Dieting does not stop there, however, and an abnormal concern with dieting is established. Nobody knows what triggers the disease process, but suddenly, losing five to ten pounds is not enough. The anorectic patient becomes intent on losing weight. It is not uncommon for someone who develops the disorder to starve herself until she weighs just 60 or 70 pounds. Throughout the starvation process she either denies being hungry or claims to feel full after eating just a few bites.

Most researchers agree that the number of patients with anorexia nervosa is

increasing. Recent estimates suggest that out of every 200 American girls between the ages of 15 and 19, one will develop anorexia to some degree. Therapists find that persons

with anorexia usually lack self-esteem and feel they can gain admiration by losing weight

and becoming thin. While most anorexia nervosa patients are female, about 6 percent are

adolescent boys. Occasionally the disorder is found in older women and in children as young as eight years old.

Psychological symptoms such as social withdrawal, obsessive-compulsiveness and depression often precede or accompany anorexia nervosa. The patient's distorted view of herself and the world around her are the cause of these psychological disturbances. Distortion of body image is another prevalent symptom. While most normal females can give an accurate estimate of their body weight, anorectic patients tend to perceive themselves as markedly larger than they really are. Certain reproductive functions also become impaired. In females this results in a cessation of menstruation and the absence of ovulation. Also profound physical symptoms also occur in cases of extreme starvation. Physically, the disorder causes the body to slowly deteriorate. The body, in its amazing capabilities, begins to protect itself by shutting down non-life sustaining processes. The heart rate and blood pressure slow, very fine hairs called lanugos grow on the body to prevent loss of body heat, and the skin becomes dry and yellow. The master gland, the thyroid, slows, which in turn slows development. Due to nutrient restriction and electrolyte imbalance, the heart and