Roxanna+A.

 __**Anorexia**__


 * Dying to be skinny? That’s what most teens do just to fit in, impress someone they like, or to be like the super model on the cover of Vogue Magazine. Not only do they lose a ton of weight, but they also are in the process of killing themselves, not only physically but mentally. This is called Anorexia. It is a psychiatric (mental) disorder, especially among 90% of teenage girls just in the Unites States. **



**//__ What exactly is Anorexia? __//**

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. It occurs primarily among teen girls and women.Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss, usually 15% below the person’s normal body weight (Anorexia).This condition is generally brought on by emotional disorders that lead a person to worry consistently about the appearance of his or her body. **//__ Description __//** Anorexia was first classified as a psychiatric (mental) disorder in 1980 and has since become a growing problem in the United States. Since,1970 the number of cases have doubled, and experts now estimate that 0.5 to 1 percent of all white females may be anorexic. About 90% of all anorexics are females, although the number of male anorexics is still growing. The most common age of people with this disorder is between fourteen and eighteen years old (Anorexia).

**__// What are the warning signs? //__** Warning signs to look for to tell if someone is anorexic are: Obsession with calories, fat grams and food // **__Causes__** // The exact cause of anorexia is not known. However, there are some factors that are known for causing this disorder. Most people consider that being thin is a essential part of beauty, and young girls often think they must be thin to be attractive. Most young girls want to look like models and want to be skinny like the model on the cover of a popular magazine, so they end up becoming anorexic. Another reason why is because of occupational goals.Some jobs traditionally expect women to be very slender. Dancers,fashion models, gymnasts, and actresses are often expected to be thin (Anorexia). Many young girls who's dream of becoming one of these may decide to pursue an extreme weight-loss program, in order to be one. This ends up leading to anorexia
 * Use of any medicines to keep from gaining weight (diet pills, laxatives, water pills)
 * Fainting
 * Over-exercising
 * Not having periods

//__ ** Anorexia Bulimia ** __// There is a difference between anorexia and bulimia. Anorexic bulimia gets its name from the Greek term //boulimos,// meaning "great hunger," or, literally, "the hunger of an ox." People with bulimia go on eating bin  ges, often stuffing themselves with junk food and then forcing their bodies to get rid of the food, either by making themselves vomit or by taking large amounts of laxatives. Bulimia results in starvation, like anorexia. But, bulimia is much more difficult to notice because people who have the disorder tend to be of normal weight or may even be overweight. They tend to hide their habit of binge eating followed by purging by vomiting or using laxatives. In fact, bulimia was not widely recognized, even among medical and mental health professionals, until the 1980s. Many people overeat from time to time but are not considered bulimic. According to the American Psychiatric Association's definition, a bulimic is defined as someone who binges on enormous amounts of food at least twice a week for three months or more. Treatment generally involves psychotherapy and sometimes the use of antidepressant drugs. Unlike anorectics, bulimics usually admit they have a problem and want help overcoming it (Eating Disorders ).  **__// Treatment // __** There is treatment to anorexia. However, it can be quit complicated. For a serious case of anorexia it can require hospital treatment. An anorexic patient is emitted to the hospital when he or she is 40 percent below normal body weight, sings of mental disorders, severe binging and purging, or family crisis (Anorexia). In hospital treatment first, the patient is giving the opportunity to eat normally. If the patent does not decided to do so, then he or she will be force-fed. Second, the patient will attend a counseling session, individually or in a group, to talk about their problems and how then can be resolved. Family therapy is usually a good treatment also. Therapy helps relatives’ of the anorexic to understand their role in the patient’s problems (Anorexia). Medications can sometimes be used too as a source for treatment. They help the patient become less depressed, less anxious, and better to think clearly about his or her problems (Anorexia).

__ // Conclusion // __ Anorexia is a serious eating and mental problem, that a lot of teenagers are suffering from today. It’s sad to think about how many teens, especially girls that are so lost and think that they are not good enough. Anorexia does so much harm to your body, your life and even to your family. But with the proper treatment, medications, counseling, and encouragement you can beat anorexia, it is a life changing process to a better you and life, forever.

media type="youtube" key="80Fx8C9UN84" height="344" width="425" align="center"

 *__More Information:__ [|I Think My Friend May Have A Eating Disorder]:If you know someone close to you suffering from anorexia this website can help you cure your friend. [|Anorexia Nervosa Survival Guide]:This website helps people battling anorexia. [|Anorexia Facts]:This website gives you some basic information about anorexia [|Facts About Anorexia in Kids and Teens] : T his website gives you really good and helpful facts about anorexia if teens. [|Anorexia Help]: This website helps you to cure anorexia.

Works Cited Edwards, Roxanne. "Anorexia Nervosa." Anorexia Nervosa. Ed. William C. Shiel and Melissa Stoppler. MedicineNet, Inc., 29 Sept. 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2010. [].

"Facts on Anorexia Nervosa." Facts on Anorexia Nervosa. The Renfrew Center, 28 Jan. 2002. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. [].

Nagel, Rob. "Eating Disorders." //Gale Cengage//. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale. Web. 30 Jan. 2010.

Newton, David, and Donna Olendorf. "Anorexia." //Gale Cengage Learning//. Student Resource Center - Gold. Gale, 7 July 2007. Web. 27 Jan. 2007.