Anorexia is a problem that if frequently seen in teenage girls. There are instances where we also see it in teenage boys and adults of both sexes. These people are obsessed with being thin and no matter how thin they actually are, they continually believe and perceive themselves as being fat. They are literally terrified of gaining weight and as a result, they starve themselves and lose extreme amounts of weight. Although anorexia is an eating disorder, it isn’t a problem that is only about food and the person’s weight. It is often a problem that also includes emotional problems.
People with anorexia starve themselves. They will avoid any foods that are high in calories and exercise constantly. Some people with anorexia will go long periods of time without eating at all. Some signs of anorexia are a person intentionally starving themselves to lose weight, fear that they may gain weight, complete refusal to eat at all, continually saying that they are not hungry when it is obvious that they are, continual and constant exercising, increased amounts of fine, soft hair of the body or face, extreme sensitivity to the cold, irregular periods or the complete absence of periods all together, hair on the scalp may be lost or thinning, always seeing themselves as fat when , in fact, they are really too thin. A person with anorexia is never happy with how their body looks, and each time they eat, they may feel guilty or even disgusted with themselves. Often times, you will see a person with anorexia eating very slowly and picking at their food a great deal. They may shuffle their food from one side of the plate to the other, pick it apart, take tiny bites, or even leave most of the food untouched after only a bite or two. It is common for a person with anorexia to exercise immediately after eating anything.
Medically, aside from just looking too thin, a person with anorexia will have abnormal blood counts, constipation, low blood pressure, bone loss, irregular heart beat, dizziness, fainting spells, and fatigue. They may be sick often. Some people with anorexia may even stop going to the doctor when they are sick because they do not want to hear a doctor tell them that they really are sick.
The reasons behind anorexia are not known. It is a common belief that people with anorexia are simply never happy with themselves. They believe that their life would be better if they are thin, that they would be more successful in their career, happier with themselves. People with anorexia are often times perfectionists. They feel like every aspect of their life needs to be perfect. People with anorexia are normally really good students, they get good grades; they are involved in many school activities as well as community activities. They will often blame themselves if their grades are not perfect or if anything in their life is not perfect.
People with anorexia often feel as if they have no control. They will deliberately starve themselves and say that they are not hungry just because they can control what they eat and the extent of the hunger they feel. They do not realize that they are harming themselves with their actions; they just want to be in control. They will skip meals, make excuses for not eating, eat foods that are very low in calories and fat, they may cook big, fancy meals for others, but not eat any of it themselves, they may spit out food after chewing it, weigh the food before eating. They have mood swings and are often in a bad mood for unknown reasons. Concentrating on even simple things can be difficult for people with anorexia, and it is common for them to think about food a lot. They may wear baggy clothes or layers of clothes.
Treatment for these people is not easy. They do not understand that they are doing something wrong and unhealthy. They really believe that they are doing something good. Treatment can include medication, therapy, and in severe cases, even hospitalization. Family and friends can also help in the treatment of a person with anorexia by being loving and supportive. It is important for a person with anorexia to know that they are loved, safe, and secure. It is also important for family members to be patient, yet not give in to the person with anorexia when it comes to skipping meals. A person with anorexia will lie about eating and even hide food so they do not have to eat it to avoid gaining any weight. In the person’s mind, if they gain weight, they lose control.
People with anorexia need help as soon as possible. They will argue with a person trying to help them; insisting that they are not sick. They may become enraged at the thought of being told to eat. They may even feel like they are being punished. The truth is, a person with anorexia can die from starvation.
