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Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder. "Anorexia nervosa" also frequently referred to as simply "anorexia", literally means "loss of appetite for nervous reasons."
Unfortunately, the prevalence of anorexia nervosa is quite high.
Experts estimate that approximately 2.5 million Americans suffer from this disorder. Shockingly, anorexia nervosa can be deadly. This disorder has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Research indicates that only about half of the individuals who suffer from anorexia nervosa will recover. Further, it is estimated that between 5 to 20 percent of individuals who do not seek medical treatment for anorexia nervosa will die from this disorder.
The general public appears to be becoming more aware of the seriousness of eating disorders. Newsweek Magazine's December 2, 2005 cover story featured "Fighting Anorexia." The lead article discussed some of the latest trends and research in treating anorexia nervosa.
Who gets anorexia nervosa? Most teens who have an eating disorder are girls. However, experts estimate that about ten percent of teens with eating disorders are guys.
What causes an eating disorder? Who becomes anorexic? Right now the experts aren't really sure. Most people who develop eating disorders develop the disorder between the ages of 14 and 18. Eating disorder experts blame the increase in eating disorders with our cultural obsession with the thin body shape.
Teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 18 are at high risk for developing anorexia nervosa. Young girls in this age range are searching for an identity. They are going to look at pop stars, models, and movie stars. The girls are naturally going to want to look like their heroes. They dream of exciting futures of being rich, beautiful and famous. If their heroes are thin, then, of course, vulnerable young girls with low self-esteem and little confidence are going to want to be thin also.
Expert on eating disorders offer another explanation for the development of eating disorders in young people. During the turbulent and confusing years between 14 and 18, teenagers are experiencing a frightening array of changes and social pressures. These enormous changes and the resultant stress can often throw a young person into a pit of feeling helpless and hopeless.
Many mental health experts believe that anorexia is about control. Teens who feel that they are out of control in every other area of their lives can certainly decide what and when they will put into their mouths.
However, some experts are questioning the old model of whom gets anorexia nervosa. Treatment specialists are seeing young girls become anorexic at much younger ages. Girls as young as 9 or 10 are starting to exhibit this disorder.
Psychiatrists have also started to note that anorexia nervosa appears to be no longer the exclusive disease of white, privileged upper middle class girls responding to the overwhelming demands to be perfect and to fit in to meet the high expectations of their driven upper middle class parents.
Mental health professionals are reporting not only younger patients with anorexia nervosa, but they are also seeing this disorder in middle-aged groups as well as diverse ethnic groups including Hispanics, Asians and blacks.
What do you do if you believe that you are anorexic or you believe that someone else might have anorexia? Get help immediately. Your life or the life of someone you love may be at stake.
For additional information: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
Pam Truit, M.A.
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