Anorexia nervosa – an obsession with weight

– if she could only look as slim as those girls on the television. Never mind that Lisa is 5ft 7 inches and weighs only 125 pounds. She wants to reduce her weigh at least 100 lbs.

Her friend, Georgia is envious of Lisa’s weight and always compliments her on how she looks. However, Lisa still feels uncomfortable. So she goes on a diet (or so she thinks) by eating as little food as possible, without knowing that she is doing more harm to her body than good.

More teenagers and young women are becoming like Lisa, wanting to reduce their weight to fit in with today’s fashion and hip lifestyle. Many go overboard and end up with a medical condition called anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually occurs in teenage girls, female adults up to their early 30s and in some cases teenage boys. People with anorexia (as it is often called) are obsessed with being thin. They lose a lot of weight. They 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.

People with anorexia starve themselves, avoid high-calorie foods, and exercise constantly. People with bulimia eat huge amounts of food, but they throw up soon after eating, or take laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia don’t usually lose as much weight as people with anorexia.

Warning signs of anorexia

* Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss

* Fear of gaining weight

* Refusal to eat

* Denial of hunger

* Constant exercising

* Greater amounts of hair on the body or the face

* Sensitivity to cold

* Absent or irregular periods

* Loss of scalp hair

* A self-perception of being fat when the person is really too thin

Why do people get anorexia?

The reason people get anorexia isn’t known. People with anorexia may believe they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. They want everything in their lives to be perfect. People who have this disorder are usually good students. They are involved in many school and community activities. They blame themselves if they don’t get perfect grades or if other things in life are not perfect.

There are several problems that are associated with this condition. Girls with anorexia usually stop having menstrual periods – even for a time. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time and they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry. Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger gives them a feeling of control over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are good at something – they are good at losing weight. People with severe anorexia may be at risk of death from starvation.

What is the treatment for anorexia?

Treatment of anorexia is difficult because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them.

People with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person’s eating habits. Anorexic patients often need counselling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or their problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counselling.

How can family and friends help?

The most important thing that family and friends can do to help a person with anorexia is to love them. People with anorexia feel safe, secure and comfortable with their illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight is seen as loss of control. They may deny they have a problem. People with anorexia will beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving up the illness. Family and friends should not give in to the pleading of the anorexic patient.