Anorexia Nervosa Alert - Is Your Daughter Dying To Be Thin?
By S.A. Smith, Fri Dec 9th
Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that isstatistically most prevalent in the adolescent teenage years ofyoung women. It is estimated that 7% of the population suffersfrom eating disorders and if left untreated over 20% of themwill die from it. Anorexia takes the lives of children everydayin this world and there are things you can do as a parent toidentify anorexic behaviors and intervene to protect yourchildren. Anorexia nervosa is a condition where one becomes obsessed withlosing weight and practices self-starvation in an attempt toachieve significant or to maintain extremelyunhealthy level of body weight. Anorexics are terrified ofgaining weight, and often believe they are very fat even thoughthey are already very thin. Anorexia is not just a condition related to food and eating, buttakes its roots from a deeper psychological level. Food andeating becomes a destructive tool that one uses to deal and copewith other emotional problems. Anorexics will often reach out toother anorexics on the internet in “pro-ana” sites whereby theyencourage each other to continue their journey.Pro-ana sites argue that anorexia is a lifestyle choice and notan actual disorder, and offer dysfunctional support to othervictims of the disease. The risk to our youth from eatingdisorders is significant and there are things you can do as aparent to intervene:
WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS Excessive weight loss: A person suffering from anorexia isskinny and may end up losing more that 15% of their ideal body. Diet restrictions: a person with anorexia continues to restrictfoods and diet even when they are not overweight. Food Obsession: an excessive preoccupation with food, calories,nutrition, or cooking methods is also a sign of anorexicbehavior. Distorted body image: complaints of feeling bloated, nauseated,or fat even when the person is thin or underweight, and
alsodenying feelings of hunger. Excessive exercising: Anorexia may cause a person to complainabout feeling bloated or nauseated even when she eats normal—orless than normal—amounts of food. Cold Sensitivity: A person suffering from anorexia may feel coldeven though the temperature is normal or only slightly cool. Fatigue: a person suffering with anorexia will often show signsof fatigue and inability to concentrate on most tasks (exceptfood and related weight topics). Lack of social interaction: living with anorexia nervosa canbecome complicated when trying to hide it in social settingsinvolving food and eating. Avoidance of social activities thatinclude food is a common sign. Depressed immunity: a person suffering with anorexia may have aweakened immune system and have frequent colds, illnesses and ageneral feeling of not feeling well. Depression: anorexics will often exhibit signs of depression,anxiety, guilt and sadness while struggling with their disorder. Physical changes: a person with anorexia over time may exhibittell-tall physical characteristics such as; downy hair growth onthe face, loss of menstruation cycles, dry nails, dry hair,constipation, headaches and possible hair loss. Internet behaviors: a person with anorexia may be visitingpro-anorexic sites on the internet that offers encouragement andsupport of this disorder. Check your computers browser cache toreview the history of websites it has visited. If you suspect that one of your family members is suffering fromanorexia nervosa it is important to take action now to armyourself with information about the disorder and steps you canwork towards to provide help and assistance. For moreinformation on the types of treatment methods available you canvisit:http://www.anorexiabulimiahelp.com/eating-disorders-treatment.htm
About the author: S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, correspondent, andcontributing editor of the Anorexia Bulimia Help resource siteand can be reached at http://www.anorexiabulimiahelp.com |
