Proposal to Aid Female Adolescents Suffering from Anorexia Nervosa

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A. Overview of Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized as a progressively increasing health issue that plagues a vast amount of the female population worldwide. According to The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders [RCF], (2003), up to 24 million people in the nation and 70 million persons around the world are disturbed by all the categories of eating disorders (RCF, 2003). More specifically, anorexia is placed third on the list of most prevalent prolonged diseases among the pubescent female population (RCF, 2003). In order to grasp how anorexia nervosa is such a substantial problem as well as the history behind the matter, the eating disorder must first be identified and analyzed. According to the American Psychiatric Association [APA], (2000), the DSM-IV-TR: 307.1 lists four critical principles for the evaluation of anorexia nervosa: (a) defiance when it comes to managing an appropriate weight for age and height, (b) acute distress of excess avoirdupois, (c) extremely distorted body image, (d) and the lack of menses in post-menarcheal females (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). In other words, anorexia is a psychiatric disease indicated by disturbed food consumption patterns, marked by reoccurring rejection of food and other vital nutrients, ultimately resulting in perilous and inadequate body mass, and potentially severe medical complications (Alton I., 2005, p.137-8). In order to evaluate the severity of this health problem, the outcomes must be distinctly outlined. Since anorexia nervosa is now one of the leading causes of death among adolescent females, it is imperative to step in and provide a health education program geared towards this young population’s needs. Victim... ... middle of paper ... ...rticleid=171119 Sundgot-Borgen, J., & Torstveit, M. K. (2004). Prevalence Of Eating Disorders In Elite Athletes Is Higher Than In The General Population. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 14(1), 25-32. Retrieved from http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/39/3/141.full ULifeline. (2014). Eating Disorders: Why Do They Happen? . Retrieved from http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/400-eating-disorders-why-do-they-happen Wade, T. D., Keski-Rahkonen A., & Hudson J. (2011). Epidemiology of eating disorders. In M. Tsuang and M. Tohen (Eds.), Textbook in Psychiatric Epidemiology (3rd ed.) (pp. 343-360). New York: Wiley. Zucker, N. L., Womble, L. G., Mlliamson, D. A., & Perrin, L. A. (1999). Protective Factors For Eating Disorders In Female College Athletes. Eating Disorders, 7(3), 207-218. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10640269908249286#preview

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