Teen Health

Anorexia Nervosa

One-half to one percent of women between the ages of 15 to 30 suffer from Anorexia. It is a very depraved condition which is debilitating, dangerous, and cruel. Anorexics are completely obsessed about food, but the irony is they will never eat it. With this eating disorder, a person intentionally deprives himself or herself of food in an attempt to be what they consider thin.

The main problem with the illness is the victim’s dementia makes them believe they are not thin enough. No matter how much weight the individual looses, he or she will still want to loose more. Even if the person has become emaciated, he or she will still believe that they are “fat”. Because the victims literally starve themselves to death, Anorexia is an extremely dangerous condition and should not be taken lightly. It is fatal in 10 percent of cases; if the person is lucky enough to live through it, the illness can cause irreversible body damage.

Anorexia causes severe malnutrition with the person developing dry, yellow skin, hair loss, low blood pressure, and severe constipation. Needless to say, you become a shell of what you once were. It literally destroys the body from the inside out.

• Warning Signs of Anorexia
• Intense fear of gaining weight
• Preoccupation with food
• Pause in menstrual cycle
• Poor eating habits
• Mood swings
• Lack of energy
• Depression
• Inability to concentrate.

Bulimia Nervosa

“Have you ever heard of binge eaters? Binge eaters consume large amounts of food in a very short amount of time. That is what bulimics do. But, immediately after they binge, they feel guilty about all the food they just ate. So, they purge, or get rid of, the food in their bodies by making themselves vomit. Some bulimics take enemas or abuse laxatives, but vomiting is the most common way to purge. ”

“What makes Bulimia so dangerous is this self-inflicted vomiting. But what many fail to realize is that this practice will seriously injure their bodies. Repeat vomiting can damage to the stomach and esophagus. It can lead to ulcers and chronic heartburn. Also, stomach acids are very damaging to the mouth. The acids cause the tooth enamel to erode leaving the victim with nasty, ragged teeth. Constant vomiting also causes the salivary glands to swell leaving the cheeks to look swollen. ”

“Bulimia may be more common than you think; it develops in five percent of adolescent and young women. ”

• Warning Signs of Bulimia
• Hidden stashes of food
• Avoidance of social eating situations
• Bloodshot eyes
• Compulsive exercising
• Abrasions on the back of the hand
• Secretive eating
• Disappearance after meals
• Long visits to the bathroom after eating

Many people group Anoxia and Bulimia together because they have some elements in common. For example, the victims are obsessed with food. They are also accompanied by low self-esteem, depression, and the necessity to feel control. Studies have also shown that there is a link between sexual or physical abuse and eating disorders. These illnesses can even overlap each other and be found in one person.

Also, neither illness can be self-treated. The victim must realize he or she has a problem; no one can make them stop. But unlike most bulimics, many anorexics need to be hospitalized if their condition is very serious. Fortunately both diseases can be treated, but the treatment is a slow, ongoing process that involves the management of the condition. Anorexia can never be “cured.”

Teenagers have it tough nowadays. The peer pressure to mimic these stick-thin celebrities is unbelievable. But, so what if you are not a size zero like Paris and Lindsay? Just remember, you have your own beautiful body – fill it with healthy and nutritious food and you will feel great about yourself and your appearance.