The Disorder Anorexia Nervosa

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The Disorder Anorexia Nervosa

In this paper, we will be describing a crucial disorder that affects many teenagers. This disorder is Anorexia Nervosa, better known as Anorexia. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by constant dieting, rapid weight loss and the feeling of being to fat during weight loss. Most anorexics are women and teenage girls, who see their self as being overweight even though they are deathly underweight.

The term ¡§Anorexia Nervosa¡¨ means loss of appetite due to nerves, but the people with anorexia do not actually lose their appetite until the late stages of their starvation. Until then they just do feel hungry but they will not eat.

There are numerous physical signs of anorexia but there are four main ones. They are:

1. Rapid loss of body fat

2. Wasting away of body fat

3. Pale dry skin

4. Irregular heart beat

An anorexic may also have dehydration and fainting may occur.

Anorexia also has many effects on the body. Anorexia may result in the shrinkage of internal organs, including the kidneys, heart, and brain. A person may also lose the ability to reproduce. As the heart muscle weakens, an irregular heart rhythm and heart failure are possible. Some other complications are:

„X Constipation and difficulty urinating

„X Muscle aches and cramps

„X Swelling of joints

„X Injuries to nerves and tendons

„X Inability to concentrate

„X Digestive problems

People afflicted by anorexia have an extreme fear of gaining weight. In addition, to drastic dieting, they may also turn to vomiting and the use of laxatives to lose weight.

Without treatment, anorexia can cause serious health problems and even lead to death. Anorexia is very dangerous, and professional help should be sought immediately. Prompt treatments will usually keep the problem from progressing, but some cases are very resistant to treatment and may require hospitalization. As many as 15 percent die from complications.

Anorexia Nervosa occurs much more frequently in females than in males. The statistics show that 90% of all anorexics are females. Most often anorexia develops during adolescence or young adulthood, although there is some evidence that it may occur at a later age.

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