Wannarexia is a new term for people who are dying to "get" anorexia
Anorexia is one of the most dangerous mental health issues, as the fatality rate is the highest among so many other deadly diseases. It comes as a shock, then, that a new term, “Wannarexia,” is being coined for those who are desperate to learn how to become anorexic.
For those who suffer from an eating disorder, this new group of individuals are contemptible. They give a bad name to those who are seriously ill and fighting for their lives.
The anxiety to be thin, though, seems to be outweighing logic. There are young women who ask professionals how to be anorexic, like the high school student who approached Dr. Richard Kreipe in New York.
Young Women
The trend in teenage girls is the worst, as they are trying to fit in and think that only be being thin will they ever become popular. So they take their attempt to the extreme and try to make themselves sick.
The difference is, a person cannot will anorexia or any other eating disorder. Although research has not been done on this group yet, it is becoming more and more common. Young girls, especially, are striving to be skinny and develop a fascination with their extremely thin peers.
Dr. Tom Kersting, a psychotherapist, counsellor and author of Losing Weight When Diets Fail, was quoted as saying, "Kids simply do what other kids do. They strive to be popular ... find me a popular girl who's not thin. You won't find many. These 'wannarexics' are exactly that, girls who 'wanna' fit in" (USA Today, 2007).
Diagnosis
There is no diagnosis for “wannarexia,” it is only a term that professionals are using to define this new phenomenon. Doctors believe that some of these individuals might fit into the EDNOS (Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified) category, if a diagnosis is needed.
Pro Ana
Of course this brings up the question of how Pro Ana and Pro Mia (pro anorexia and pro bulimia) websites are contributing to “wannarexia.” The participators or these sites are usually people suffering from an eating disorder but encouraging their peers to become sicker instead of getting better.
“Wannarexia,” conversely, is the desire to be sick and have anorexia, but not the psychological constitution to be diagnosed with an eating disorder. They feel elated after losing weight, while the anorexic is miserable no matter how much she loses.
A Sick Culture
With the rise of eating disorders in general, our culture is becoming sicker and sicker and this type of behavior is seen as normal.
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