Thin & Happy

Anorexia 101
By Alison Cole

Until a few years ago, not many people had even heard of anorexia, let alone know anything about it. However, today the term "anorexia" is used quite often in our conversations. People suffering from anorexia have just one aim in mind - to lose weight. They are dissatisfied by the way they look and feel that they are fat even in a near emaciated condition.

Anorexia Nervosa, an eating disorder, is the relentless pursuit of thinness. Anorexics try to achieve that "perfect body" through a variety of methods ranging from self-induced vomiting to excessive exercising, from intake of laxatives to being on a constant diet. An anorexic person weighs 15% less than the ideal weight, depending on the age or height of the person in question.

Symptoms of anorexia are not very easy to distinguish from a simple desire to lose weight. However, it must be noted that in an anorexic person these desires become exaggerated. A person suffering from anorexia may manifest some or all of the symptoms. Skipping meals regularly, refusal to eat in public often, always carrying a diet drink along, being too obsessive about calorie intake or indulging in excessive and compulsive exercising, are some of the symptoms of an anorexic.

Anorexia can cause depression, irritability, withdrawal, loneliness and, if not treated on time, can even lead to one's death. Shrunken bones, mineral loss, irregular heartbeat and low body temperature are some of the medical hazards that are associated with this disorder. In some cases it leads to Bulimia Nervosa, which is a diet-binge-purge eating disorder. Some people, after a strict diet regimen to lose weight, go into an uncontrolled eating phase, which is then usually followed by a desperate desire to lose weight by unconventional means. This process is a vicious cycle and causes a lot of mental trauma.

Treatment of anorexia is possible but only when the patient is convinced that he or she is indeed suffering from an ailment and is ready for medication. Studies show that approximately 60% of the people who undergo some kind of treatment have full chances of recovery. If someone in your family is suffering from this disorder, offer all the support that you can. This increases the chances of survival since the patient needs every kind of emotional support that can be possibly extended to him or her.

Anorexia provides detailed information on Anorexia, Signs of Anorexia, Anorexia Statistics, Anorexia and Bulimia and more. Anorexia is affiliated with Bulimia Causes.

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An Introduction to Anorexia Nervosa
By Mark T Wright

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, enemas 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.

The author is an expert in the field of anorexia and runs an anorexia symptoms site. This includes information about girls with anorexia and anorexia tips.

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Anorexia Symptoms
By Anil R Gowda

Yes we are talking about the obsession of many models, rather a phobia of becoming overweight. This sate of mind can well be a sign of being anorexic. Many famous celebrities like Carla Bruni and Keira Knightley have often faced the allegation of being anorexic. It has been clinically proved that women are more prone to this disorder. Now how do you know that you are suffering by Anorixia nervosa. Here are certain definitive indications or symptoms you can look for:

1. Extreme Loss, BMI less than 17.5 in adults.
2. Endocrine disorders resulting strange mood swings.
3. Starvation symptoms
4. Abnormalities in the electrolyte balance of the body
5. Constipation, frequent headaches
6. Reduced count of WBC
7. Dry skin, brittle nails, growth of lanugo hair over the body
8. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), low self esteem

If these are the symptoms than you may surely be an anorexic, which can be because of genetic factors, neurological disorders, and even eating habits. If the Zinc intake in your diet, is very less then you can easily be targeted by this disease. The other reason may be the excessive secretion of serotonin which may result anxiety and other nervous imbalances. Even the social surroundings can be a cause especially in the case of actors and their families, the siblings or the offspring may always want to stay fitter and slimmer, causing them this disease.

The treatment has three phases: The psychological phase where the patient has to go through some exercises to increase their self esteem, this phase may consist the intake of anti depressants. Second is the phase of improving the eating habits with a balanced diet which has a good amount of zinc or else zinc capsules are also an option. The third is the most important phase because it is the phase where it is ensured that the patient does not go through such a dilemma again. Here it is a combination of psycho-counseling and a strict diet & exercise regime to be followed.

Anil R Gowda :

http://www.itechtalk.com

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Anorexia - 9 Symptoms of a Warped Body Image
By Shevach Pepper

Anorexia is no laughing matter. It is a very serious condition that is potentially life threatening. It is our jobs as parents to spot the symptoms of anorexia as soon as possible in order to seek out proper medical help before it is too late. The more time that we procrastinate the harder it is to cure.

There are two general types of indicators of anorexia: bizarre eating habits and a warped sense of their body image.

Some common examples of bizarre eating habits that are indicative of anorexia are chewing food and then spitting it out, gorging and then purging, or only eating low fat food. In this article you I will list 9 symptoms of warped sense of their body that strongly suggest anorexia.

1. Even though they are within or even below the optimal weight for their height they constantly complain about their weight.
2. They constantly compare their figures to other people's figures, especially to pictures of models in magazines.
3. They are obsessed with looking at glamour magazines.
4. Even when they are "all skin and bones" they mention that they are fat.
5. They constantly talk about weight and being thin. The subject of weight and body figure engulfs their whole being.
6. They exercise/workout madly.
7. Their skin becomes dry and yellow.
8. They are constantly cold.
9. They wear baggy clothing or several layers of clothing (even in the heat) to cover up their bodies.

If you notice these absurd behaviors in your child (or your child's friends) seek out medical help AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. The quicker that treatment begins, the more effective the treatment will be. Just remember that your child's life might depend on your expeditiousness.

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Anorexia and Bulimia - Common Eating Disorders Caused by Body Image Pressures
By Samantha Adams

Today more than ever women are being forced to try and conform to a certain image. This has led to a greater number of women suffering from common eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia nervosa. Not only can these severely damage a woman's body but also her mind as well.

In most cases women and now even some men are suffering from these eating disorders and they will be obsessed with regards to what they eat. Yet even though many of these detest looking at food, it still plays a major role in their lives. This is especially true for those who suffer from the eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa.

Many of these will have particular rituals that they carry out in relation to what they eat. Some will make sure that they limit themselves to only consuming a certain number of calories each day. Whilst others although won't watch their calories will cut up their food very small when they are eating.

As for bulimia these people will spend considerable times eating large amounts of food to immediately work on ways of purging it from their body. In many cases because quite a food will able to maintain their right weight it becomes a lot more difficult to recognize they have this problem and help them.

Yet even though with both these common eating disorders the people's lives revolve around food it is always that they are concerned about how much they weigh. In many cases it is because they find that they are not able to control other aspects of their lives but they can control what they eat, how much and when. Yet although they think they have control over this situation in fact they don't and the food is what is now got control.

Want to Learn More?

Get Free tips and advice about eating disorders visit Common Eating Disorders.

Get The facts now. http://commoneatingdisorders.com

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Common Myths and Misconceptions about Anorexia
By Groshan Fabiola

People have many misconceptions about anorexia. Due to poor understanding of the phenomenon or due to various popular myths surrounding eating disorders, most people assimilate denatured ideas regarding anorexia and the persons it affects.

Probably the most common misconception describes anorexia as an incurable, terrifying disease. Although anorexia can cause both physical and psychological harm, this type of eating disorder can be successfully treated and its undesirable effects can be overcome in time. In fact, through the means of an appropriate therapeutic program, the great majority of patients diagnosed with anorexia can be completely recovered from the disorder in a relatively short period of time.

Statistics indicate that more than 80 percent of people that have been confronted with anorexia at a certain point of their lives have been completely recovered with the means of psychological counseling and the help and encouragement of their families. Furthermore, most of the people affected by anorexia in the past have been able to achieve emotional balance, regaining full control over their lives. However, the truth is that anorexia needs to be timely discovered and prompt intervention is required when dealing with this type of disorder, as the affected persons can inflict themselves a lot of physical and emotional damage.

Another popular myth surrounding this type of eating disorder suggests the idea that anorexics do not eat. This idea is completely exaggerated and unfunded! Although anorexics are very restrictive with food and they indeed keep drastic diets, they are human beings after all and therefore they need to eat! In order to achieve their goal of having a slim body, anorexics usually avoid foods that are rich in calories and therefore they commonly follow vegetarian diets. Every once in a while, anorexics may also engage in binge-purge behaviors, eating exaggerated amounts of food at once, only to dispose of it right after, by vomiting or by using laxatives and diuretics. However, this behavior is more common among bulimics.

People also commonly confuse anorexia with bulimia. Although anorexia may resemble bulimia and people generally experience difficulties in separating between them, each of these two common types of eating disorders has various distinctive features. However, people with eating disorders can have oscillatory behaviors and anorexics can easily become bulimics, or vice versa.

First of all, from a physical point of view, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics is body weight. While most anorexics are underweight, bulimics often have an average or, above average body weight. Therefore, unlike the case of anorexics, it is even more difficult to identify a person who suffers from bulimia.

From a behavioral point of view, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics involves their eating habits. While anorexics commonly keep drastic diets and restrict their intake of calories, bulimics predominantly engage in binge-purge acts.

From a psychological perspective, the main difference between anorexics and bulimics is that people with anorexia have a stronger will and ambition than bulimics. While both these categories have a low self esteem and a distorted self-image, bulimics are often more likely to suffer from depression. Their contradictory, ambivalent behaviors that fluctuate between binging and purging food render them very vulnerable to developing feelings of guilt and confusion.

If you want to find great information on different anorexia subjects check out this links. You can find great content regarding signs of anorexia, anorexia tips and many more.

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