It is estimated that between .5% and 2% of women are suffering from anorexia nervosa. That number may seem trivial to some, but think of it this way: the city of Orlando has just over 112,000 female residents which means that between roughly 561 and 2,244 women suffer from the disease in Orlando alone ("Orlando", Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2007). With staggering statistics such as those, it's easy to see why anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychological illness.
Symptoms, Side Effects and Their Scientific Backing
Below is a list of both common and uncommonly known symptoms/side effects:
- disinterest in food
- eating in secret
- frequent illness
- obsession with body image
- a 15% or more drop in body weight which usually triggers amenorrhea (the cessation of the menstrual cycle)
- frequent use laxatives
- an obsessive interest in cooking for others while never partaking in the consumption of food
- Depression and anxiety
In 1996, a cross-sectional study conducted by the University of Michigan was published in The American Journal of Nutrition. Its purpose was to "describe the nutritional characteristics of college-aged women defined by their eating attitudes and behaviors with a previously described questionnaire".
To perform this study, researchers used a group of 76 undergraduate women who had never been diagnosed with anorexia but did exhibit some characteristics and were thus deemed "at risk". Results of the questionnaire showed that women with increased dietary pathology consumed significantly less dietary fat than their peers. This research was important because it clearly defined yet another characteristic of women who are at-risk for developing the disease. (Rock, Gorenflo, Drewnowski, Demitrack, 1996)
Because anorexia typically develops during a period of time when the bones are growing, the disease often results in the loss of bone density. In an informative paper written by Philip S. Mehler entitled, Osteoporosis in Anoerxia Nervosa: Prevention and Treatment the author states that the longer the disease goes untreated, the most unlikely it is that the bones will repair themselves, thus resulting in osteoporosis. (Mehler, 2002)
Environment v. Genetics: The Epic Battle
It is well known that scientists have vehemently argued nature v nurture for years and it's only fair to acknowledge both ideals; though it's important to note that the possible genetic causes of anorexia nervosa have become popular thanks to the recent surge of interest in neuropsychology.
Anorexia is not an age-exclusive disease, but women who are in high school or college are usually more likely to develop the aforementioned symptoms. Women who participate in certain body-conscious athletic activities (swimming, gymnastics, ballet), are in certain professions (acting), or have certain personality traits (obsessive compulsive) also tend to be more susceptible.
As a nod to environmental factors, a study performed by researchers Pamela Keel of Harvard University and Kelly Klump of Michigan State University, "...eating disorders seem to have become more common among younger females during the latter half of the twentieth century, during a period when icons of American beauty (Miss America contestants and Playboy centerfolds) have become thinner and women's magazines have published significantly more articles on methods for weight loss." (Keel & Klump, 2003)
On other side of the spectrum, it is hypothesized that noteworthy genetic influences also trigger the onset of anorexia. A study conducted by Shan Guisinger which was published by the American Psychological Association in 2003 theorized that anorexia has its roots in our evolutionary past. The theory lends itself to the biological/genetic basis explanation in that it "presents evidence that anorexia nervosa's distinctive symptoms of restricting food, denial of starvation, and hyperactivity are likely to be evolutionarily adaptive mechanisms that facilitated ancestral nomadic foragers leaving depleted environments; genetically susceptible individuals who lose too much weight may trigger these archaic adaptations." Simply put, this means that when our ancestors' land ran out of resources and food, they probably exemplified the evolutionarily adaptive characteristics that are similar to the symptoms that anorexics display today (Psychological Review, Inc. 2003. Vol.110).
There are countless other scientific studies to support either side of the environment v. genetics seesaw. Unfortunately, it's impossible to completely rule either out because almost every scientific study can be refuted or, explained differently by, the other belief.
Neuropsychology is the Future
As mentioned before, a growing medical trend is the study of neuropsychology and how different parts of the brain contribute to the onset of eating disorders. Another article will be posted soon that will explore the neurological revolution and why the attention that it's getting now is well-deserved.
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