Anorexia Nervosa, or simply Anorexia as it is commonly called, is a potentially life threatening eating disorder characterized by obsession with extremely low body weight, distortion of body image and extreme fear of putting on any weight. Additionally, it is also considered a psychological disorder since a person suffering from anorexia is obsessed with controlling their body and body weight. Over time this obsession becomes an addiction, similar to any other substance or drug abuse.

Like most other eating disorders, anorexia too is likely to occur during the pre- or post-puberty stage, affecting females more than males. Approximately, 95% of people affecting by Anorexia are adolescent women. However, this eating disorder is not restricted only to adolescence and can affect women at any stage in her life. Similarly, men and especially adolescent men, are also at a risk of develop this eating disorder. Estimates in the US claim that one adolescent girl in every 100 suffers from Anorexia. Also, it has been found that Caucasians are more prone to Anorexia compared to other races in the US. Apparently even a person’s socio-economic background has an impact on this eating disorder as it has been found to be most common in those who come from middle or upper socio-economic background.

Anorexia can be of two types: the Restricting type and the Purging type. In the restricting type of Anorexia, people try and control their body weight by restricting intake of food and by excessive exercising. On the other hand, the purging type of Anorexia is characterized by binge eating followed by purging by means of self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, ****** or diuretics, along with restrictions on food intake and excessive exercising.

Like many other psychological disorders, the biggest obstacle to diagnosing this condition is the fact that people suffering from it are usually in denial do not think that they have any problem. People suffering from Anorexia are unlikely to seek professional help on their own and most cases get medical attention due to intervention of family and friends. However, the following are the most common criteria for diagnosing Anorexia:

Refusal to maintain minimally normal body weight Intense fear of gaining weight Inability to acknowledge actual body weight, or weight loss, i.e. distortion of body image Missing at least three consecutive menstrual cycles

Anorexia can lead to a variety of physical and psychological problems, if left untreated. To begin with the persons suffering from Anorexia are prone to violent mood swings. Their hair and nails become brittle and their skin becomes yellow. They are prone to hypothermia due to loss of body mass and they may even develop a thin layer of fine hair on their body. If Anorexia extends beyond this phase, it can damage internal organs like the heart, kidneys, liver and brain. It will also affect one’s pulse rate and blood pressure which are likely to drop. Bones become brittle and prone to breaking. In very severe cases, starvation due to Anorexia can also prove to be fatal.

By: Mark T Wright

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With the rise of obesity in today’s society everyone is looking for quick weight loss. This is a bad idea, and often will lead to developing binge eating disorder. Eating disorders are psychiatric abnormalities in one’s eating habits. Tabloids display the secret eating disorders of celebrities and music artists. Yet the news never discuss how serious these eating disorders really are, and how common they are.

Most quick weigh loss techniques require extreme unrealistic diets. Obviously these diets never keep the weight off. Even when a diet works, often the pounds lost are gained back slowly simply because no one can stay on a diet forever. The problem with quick weight loss attempts is that they often require you to stay away from junk foods and fast foods. This usually leads to binge eating.

Binge eating is consuming very large amounts of food in a short period of time. Binge eating isn’t related to hunger most of the time. Often it’s eating beyond the point of satisfying one’s physical hunger. Binge eaters often eat large amounts of food even when they aren’t really hungry. Binge eating usually leads to feelings of guilt or sadness because of the future weight gain it will lead to.

Following the popular advice of diets that recommend avoiding junk foods and fast foods is a bad idea. When one avoids such foods, one starts craving them more and more. These carvings get out of control and usually lead to binge eating. For example if someone has been avoiding pizza, and then decide to have a slice, they’ll often end up eating a few more slices and lose control.

It’s important to note that binge eating is different from bulimia. Bulimia usually involves overeating which is followed by self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, over-exercising, or fasting. Binge eating is one of the leading causes of obesity today. Obesity is very dangerous for one’s health, yet often it’s very challenging to treat.

Often obese individuals eat for comfort, and end up developing food addictions. These addictions are usually a form of emotional eating. Emotional eating is basically when one eats not to satisfy physical hunger but rather to deal with tough or negative emotions. Stress eating is a common example where one will consume larger quantities of food on a stressful day.

Binge eating is usually kept a secret. A food addict will usually overeat in private to avoid others finding out about their disorderly eating habits. This is why binge eating is very tough to treat because sufferers keep it a secret. Many will overeat until becoming obese and then will eventually become desperate and seek help.

Therapy is probably the most common treatment for binge eating. There are also recovery clinics for binge eaters to check into. Also there are many books on the topic where the authors share their own recovery efforts, what worked and what didn’t. There are also support groups such as overeaters anonymous.

Next time you are considering quick weight loss, think again. Trying to lose weight quickly is unrealistic and dangerous. Also being obsessed with your body weight can lead to developing eating disorders. It’s best to lose weight naturally through exercise, and slowly implementing healthier eating habits.

By: Andrew B

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trl. asked:


i mean…i get it and all, but have never really heard how fast the weight is lost, how much these people eat, and i was wondering if you could tell me these things? and im talking about not eating, not bulimia, purging, using laxatives, just plain anorexia.

and btw, im just curious, so dont say that i need help

wake_up_from_your_slumber asked:


Hello all: tonight i felt bored and i had like 1500 worth of pancake, figbars and a small piece of cake. And then i took some laxatives and milk of magnesia to burn all those extra calories. My question is, how many laxatives should i take after a big pig out of 2000 calories? I am planing to have another big pancake of 2000 calories on March 11. I will have a big pancake of 2000 calories every 11 of every month to kill boredom and depression.

Americannah asked:


I am overweight (no, really I am,) but I think I may have an eating disorder or something wrong because I heard it’s not healthy to take laxatives that often? I take them at least twice a week, 4 pills each time, and have been doing this for 6 months or so. Do I have an eating disorder even though I’m overweight?
i’m taking them to lose weight.

Anorexia is something more drastic than just a problem with food. It is a strange way of using food, body weight or starving oneself to feel more in charge of one’s life, to ease nervousness, anger, and anxiety. Most people with anorexia are females.

Anorexia nervosa can be termed as a psychiatric disorder.

What is anorexia?

People with anorexia have an intense fear of being fat. Their abnormal eating habits develop from this panic psychosis. This cycle of self-starvation gradually becomes an obsession, which in severe cases becomes life threatening.

The person suffering from anorexia is usually 15% below his/her ideal weight and still considers him overweight. He hardly eats at all – may even weigh food before eating it. A person with anorexia will avoid high-calorie foods and exercise constantly.

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people, especially the teen group (adolescent girls) starve themselves – the main reason is to lose weight and turn lean. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Weight loss is obtained by many ways – some harmful also. The common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives/ diet pills, vomiting after a meal and starving oneself to limitless extent.

People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight, and will resort to dieting even after they become extremely thin.

Symptoms:

There are many symptoms for anorexia; not all individuals may experience similar symptoms. The common symptoms include a body weight that is inconsistent with age, build and height (usually 15% below normal weight).

Other symptoms include:

• Constant exercise

• Loss of hair on head

• Fatigue and muscle tiredness, headaches

• Obsession with food and calories

• Irregular menstruation in women – loss of atleast 3 menstrual periods

• Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation)

• Unusual eating habits (ie. cutting food into tiny pieces, picking at food)

• Mood swings

• Anaemia

• Loss of hair on head

• Fine downy hairs on face, neck, back

• Dizziness

• Pale complexion, dehydration

What are the risks of anorexia?

There are many biological and psychological risks associated with anorexia nervosa. They include shrunken bones, mineral loss, low body temperature, irregular heartbeat, debility of the brain due to lack of nutrients, permanent retardation of normal body growth, development of osteoporosis.

People who do not receive treatment may become chronically ill or even die in severe cases.

Continued use of laxatives is extremely harmful for the body. It gradually wears out the bowel muscles and causes a decrease in its functional ability. Some laxatives may also contain harsh and toxic substances that may be reabsorbed into the body.

Long spells without adequate intake of food can cause fragile bones leading to osteoporosis, as well as damage to the heart, liver, kidneys and brain.

Anorexia can impede normal growth in the young, adolescents and cause difficulties in concentration.

People with anorexia nervosa may also experience mental health problems such as depression and increased risk of suicide.

Common causes of anorexia –

Until today, no definite and single cause of anorexia nervosa has been determined. It is likely that both inherent biological factors and factors in the person’s social environment play an integral part in its development. Some experts feel that demands from peer pressure, society and families could possibly be underlying stress causes for anorexia.

Some believed causes include:

• Frightened about getting fat

• An obsessive and constant thinking about their weight, especially losing weight.

• Demonstration effect – If you have a mother or sister with anorexia, you are more likely to develop the disorder.

• Perpetual fear of putting on weight

• Emotional problems

• Stressful events – traumatic events like rape, assault, puberty, death in the family as well as other stressful things like starting a new job, can lead to the onset of anorexia.

• Pressure to be thin and attractive, because of a poor self image, and also to fit into a certain ideal of beauty.

• Dysfunction in the part of the brain, which regulates certain metabolic processes.

• Genes, hormones and family history

How is anorexia nervosa treated?

Treatment of anorexia varies depending on the individual circumstances. There is no one single line of treatment. The initial treatment for anorexia is usually focused on immediate weight gain, especially with those who have particularly serious conditions that requires hospitalisation.

Psycho-therapy is also an effective form of treatment and can lead to restoration of weight, return of menstrual periods in female patients, improved psychological self-image and normal social functioning.

Treatment for anorexia, which includes drugs and psychological support, aims to:

• Bring back the person to a healthy, normal weight.

• Re-instate normal food habits.

• Treat any physical complication or associated mental, psychological problems.

• Bring in family support to treat the condition.

In some cases, medication such as anti-depressants may be necessary, especially people with severe depression or serious obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms.

Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening illness, and should be treated as soon as possible.



By: Candy Willims

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ladybug asked:


I have lost 30 lbs and i want to lose more i hate the way that i look i abuse laxatives and starve myself. i even chew up food and spit it back out. i am afraid that i will gain weight and i still need to lose 20 more lbs at least i starve myself until i can’t take it anymore and i eat something little that has no calories in it. does this mean i have developed a eating disorder? by the way i am 5ft 2 & weigh 124. ughh

Lucy lou asked:


Im interested to know how people have recovered from Bulimia, overeating on types of food like chocolate and getting rid of it using laxatives.