Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder common in girls and young women. A person with Anorexia Nervosa has a paranoid fear of getting fat by gaining weight from over eating. A person with Anorexia Nervosa will carry a very low body weight, but be unaware of this as the paranoia tells the body different. The paranoia with Anorexia Nervosa is acultely aware of the consequences of eating and tricks you to believe that you are fat even when you are thin. The image that you see in the mirror is what the mind wants you to see and most people with Anorexia Nervosa are repulsed by the image seen and then depression then kicks in.

There will be a total refusal to maintain a normal body weight and normally with Anorexia Nervosa the girl will miss three consecutive periods, if she is at an age where the menstrual cycle has began.

As with Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexia Nervosa too is far from being just an eating disorder, again it is the mind and behaviour that stimulate this condition. A person with Anorexia Nervosa will use food to starve themselves in a battle of gaining control over their bodies need for food.

You are more likely to get Anorexia Nervosa if it runs in the family with a mother sister or close aunt. This is because the effects from Anorexia Nervosa are physical and visible and that relative will be seen as a role model of shifting weight, but the complications of making yourself vomit after eating as a way to lose weight is where Anorexia Nervosa takes over.

Signs and Sypmtoms

• Appears underweight

• Uses unnatural tactics to control weight
• Vomit after eating
• Uses medication to urinate or pass bowel movement
• Uses dietary pills
• Stops eating or diets rigidly
• Exercises excessively
• Weighs food exactly and counts calories
• Plays with food rather than eating
• Distorted body image
• Paranoid of being fat
• Wears baggy clothes to hide appearance
• Fears any weight gain
• endlessly weighing herslf
• Talks excessively about food and weight
• Refusal to eat in front of people
• Depression
• Lack of Social interaction with peers

Treatment - Professional

There are many new ways in todays society to treat Anorexia Nervosa, but do seek help from your Gp as medication may be needed to treat the depression. Anti depressants are very effective and also treat chemicles in the brain that are being linked with Anorexia Nervosa.

See a nutritionist where Anorexia Nervosa sufferers can regain weight and control body weight by establishing a healthy diet plan and putting it in place.

Look for help from family and friends as they will have noticed your condition and will be ready to help and support you in your desparation to seek help. Counselling, support groups and family therapist sessions are excellent and have been known to help with Anorexia Nervosa sufferers.

Treatment - Family and Friends

If you find yourself in a position where somebody that you know is suffering from Anorexia Nervosa then you could be ther salvation and help them come to terms with Anorexia Nervosa.

• Talk to your friend in a private and confidential manner to start with, but without offending them be truthful about how you see their Anorexia Nervosa
• Calmly discuss with your friend your own feelings about Anorexia Nervosa and express the need for professional help under these circumstances
• Suggest to your friend that they try some counselling or support groups out and offer to accompany them to maintain your support throughout.
• If your friend is unable to admit that they are suffering with Anorexia Nervosa then there is only one thing that you can do and that is to support your friend by listening to them until they are ready to deal with their disorder.
• Be consistant with your support, once you made this move you cannot withdraw as you may be the only person whom they will confide in until their confidence and self esteem return

Affects on the body

Below is an illustrated diagram of how anorexia Nervosa affects Your body.