What we do know is that it wasn’t a household word as it is now and that it was rarely if at all, diagnosed. The term anorexia nervosa was first used in 1873 by Queen Victoria’s physician no less and the word comes from joining two Greek words “n-orexis” meaning lack of (without) appetite. In the final analysis this is a misnomer as people who suffer from anorexia most definitely do have an appetite – what they also do is control it with a very strong will.
Anorexia nervosa began to get much greater media attention with the death of Karen Carpenter in 1983 when her coroner listed the cause of her death as heartbeat irregularities associated with anorexia nervosa. Other celebrities whose eating disorders have hit the headlines include Princess Diana and the Olsen twins among many others. Since then there has been much more awareness of anorexia nervosa and eating disorders in general.
In the last few years there has been negative feedback against fashion models who are seen as too thin, with various deaths attributed to anorexia nervosa. Excessively gaunt models are no longer allowed to model clothes or swimming suits in various countries.
Anorexia nervosa is an illness, it is an eating disorder, that is characterized by the fear of gaining weight, which will then turn into excessive low body weight. The person who suffers from anorexia will also have a distorted image of his or her own body. This is a more or less official description of anorexia. Patients who suffer from this eating disorder can and many will also suffer other health related problems. This is because without the appropriate treatment, anorexia is progressive and in practice the sufferer will slowly, but continuously, starve him or herself- even unto death.
Around 90 percent of cases involve women, typically teenagers -but increasingly anorexia is found in older women and even younger children. Men do suffer from anorexia as well where the statistics show a figure of around 10%. Having said that the problem with these types of statistics is that they refer to reported cases, and obviously do not take into account non diagnosed cases as well as those occurring in countries without reliable stats. Finally for men there appears to be a greater shame factor so reports are even more limited.
Anorexia will be reflected and have:
- Physical characteristics (low body weight, hirsutism (hair growth), weakness, etc.)
- Psychological characteristics (controlling attitude, manipulation, self doubt,)
- Behavioral characteristics (avoiding food, use of laxatives, nutrition expertise)
There is one final and important point this article wants to highlight and it is based on the fact that the more we know about anorexia nervosa, the more we can help – and this help has to include corrective solutions, but in the long term we should find ways to avoid and prevent these illnesses.
The final point: the relationship between food and all eating disorders is symptomatic. Food is not the cause of the illness. This means that yes we have to solve the food issue, but this can only result in a cure if the underlying reasons (including psychological, and social relationships)are also diagnosed and treated.
Philip Robinson writes on a wide variety of subjects and as such has various on line projects that include health related subjects as well as home decor, self growth and many others.. You can visit his latest website on Milliken Carpet Tiles that is located over at http://ww.millikencarpettiles.com/ where you will find tips, information and resources for carpet modular tiles.
