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Anorexia NervosaWhat is anorexia nervosa?Anorexia nervosa is anillness 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 beingthin. They lose a lot of weight and are terrified of gaining weight. Theybelieve they are fat even though they are very thin. Anorexia isn't just aproblem with food or weight. It's an attempt to use food and weight to dealwith emotional problems.Those who are suffering with this illness have a low self-esteem and often a tremendous need to control their surroundings and emotions. The Eating Disorder, Anorexia,is a unique reaction to a variety of external and internal conflicts, such as stress, anxiety, unhappiness and feeling like life is out of control. Anorexia is a negative way to cope with these emotions. New research indicates that for a percentage of sufferers, a genetic predisposition may play a role in a sensitivity to develop Anorexia, with environmental factors being the trigger.What is the differencebetween anorexia and bulimia?Peoplewith anorexia starve themselves, avoid high-calorie foods and exerciseconstantly. People with bulimia eat huge amounts of food, but they throw upsoon after eating, or take laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to keep fromgaining weight. People with bulimia don't usually lose as much weight as peoplewith anorexiaWhy do people getanorexia?Thereason some people get anorexia isn't known.People with anorexia may believe they would be happier and more successful ifthey were thin. They want everything in their lives to be perfect. People whohave this disorder are usually good students. They are involved in many schooland community activities. They blame themselves if they don't get perfectgrades, or if other things in life are not perfectWhat are the problemscaused by anorexia?Girls with anorexiausually stop having menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin andthinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over theirbody. They may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. People withanorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and arealways thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry.Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger gives them a feeling ofcontrol over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they aregood at something--they are good at losing weight. People with severe anorexiamay be at risk of death from starvationWhat is the treatment foranorexia?Treatment of anorexia isdifficult, because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong withthem.
Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with justa small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to beadmitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want tochange and must have family and friends to help them.People with more seriousanorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people withanorexia and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eatinghabits. Anorexic patients often need counseling for a year or more so they canwork on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelingsmay be about their weight, their family problems or their problems withself-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makesthem feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and areused along with counseling.How can family and friendshelp?The mostimportant thing that family and friends can do to help a person with anorexiais to love them. People with anorexia feel safe, secure and comfortable withtheir illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight is seenas loss of control. They may deny they have a problem. People with anorexiawill beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving upthe illness. Family and friends shougive in to the pleading of theanorexic patient.