Anorexia Nervosa: The Grim Facts
Further Deaths and Debilitating Health Problems Can Be Avoided
Oct 22, 2008
With a mortality and/or permanent debilitation rate for every 10 out of 100 sufferers, the public needs to be more aware of, not only the possibility of death in this portion of the population, but also the warning signs or symptoms to look for in the family member, friends, coworkers and neighbors, so that further deaths from anorexia nervosa may be avoided. The sufferers of this eating disorder can be helped, the help is out there and easy to find, access, and use. The statistics regarding this disorder need to drop, not rise.
Causes
Sufferers of anorexia nervosa have problems seeing their bodies as they truly appear. This mental distortion leads them to believe that they need to starve themselves, in some cases to death, in an effort to meet a self-imposed ideal. They often have Type-A characteristics. They are often perfectionists, with a need for control and a desire to win at everything they attempt. Often anorexia is brought on by a sudden, unexpected trauma. But even positive events, such as an impending wedding or promotion can trigger the symptoms.
Symptoms
- Refusing to eat in front of others.
- Large and rapid drops in weight.
- Tendencies toward over exercising.
- A disdain towards foods with high calories and fats.
- Hair loss and skin problems.
- Unexpected, unexplained irritability or moodiness, sometimes manifesting as depression.
Statistics
Statistics reported by the National Center for Health Statistics ( NCHS) data from the period 2001-2006 shows that less than 3% of females within the normal to underweight range used evacuating their bodies of food as a means of weight loss. This probably doesn’t sound like a lot of people, but that number doesn’t reflect the current stats or men and boys that fall under the same description. As there has been a steady growth rate over the years, the aforementioned statistic will probably see an exponential increase.
What is mortifying is that only about 10% of all those afflicted with eating disorders in general seek and/or receive appropriate medical care. Those who do receive medical care often leave their treatment too soon to avoid the tendency towards relapse. The more underweight they are when they cease treatment, the more they are likely to relapse. If and/or when they do relapse, they are more adept at hiding their disorder from those around them. Because of the continuous rises and losses of weight, excessive exercising without proper nourishment or recovery time, and malnutrition, those with anorexia often develop severe, chronic, and debilitating health problems. Some of them die needlessly. Most of them are scarred by their experiences for the rest of their lives. As was previously stated, the sufferers of this eating disorder can be helped, the help is out there and easy to find, access, and use.
