Haven Townsend
Ray Trower
Psychology of Human Development
17 November 2013
Anorexia Nervosa Anorexia is a lack or loss of appetite for soon. It is seen as a medical condition. Anorexia is a serious disorder in eating behavior primarily of young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss. It’s only human to wish we looked different or could fix something about our self. But when a preoccupation with being thin takes over our eating habits, thoughts, and life, it’s a sign of an eating disorder. When a person has anorexia, the desire to lose weight becomes more important than anything else. This person may even lose the ability to see themselves as they truly are. Anorexia is a serious eating disorder that affects women and men of all ages. It can damage one’s health and even threaten their life.
When people with anorexia often deny having a problem, the truth is that anorexia is a serious and potentially deadly eating disorder. Fortunately, recovery is possible. With proper treatment and support, you or someone you care about can break anorexia’s self- destructive pattern and regain health and self- confidence.
There are two types of anorexia. In the restricting type of anorexia, weight loss is achieved by restricting calories (following drastic diets, fasting, and exercising to excess). In the purging type of anorexia, weight loss is achieved by vomiting or using laxatives and diuretics. Believe it or not, anorexia isn’t really about food and weight- at least not at its core. Eating disorders are much more complicated than that. The food and weight-related issues are symptoms of something deeper; things like depression, loneliness, insecurity, pressure to be perfect, or feeling out of control. Things that no amount of dieting or weight loss can cure.
Some questions that a person can ask themselves if they