Teenage-Onset Anorexia Nervosa

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According to the DSM-IV anorexia nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and amenorrhea (Polivy). According to the Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, “up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States” (Siber 331). Anorexia is seen to affect girls in their adolescence and is rarely seen to affect men. A person suffering from anorexia has a fear of being overweight and weighs 15% less than her ideal weight. Those suffering from anorexia will pursue in extreme dieting, exercise and use of laxatives. They will skip meals and even starve themselves. They will binge and purge whenever they do decide to eat (Post). This will result in them to be very moody and affect their cognitive functions (Brockmeyera). Anorexia can be fatal to one’s health and can result in suicide (Silber). Anorexia nervosa can be caused due to peer pressure from ones family and friends, teasing and bullying done in school therefore resulting in psychological problems and can result in one inflicting pain on herself and can lead to extreme health illness. In this paper, I am going to prove that Anorexia Nervosa, which is an eating disorder in teens, can have harmful effect to one’s health which can cause psychological, physical, emotional damage.

Anorexia appears to affect girls in many cultures; however, it is often found in industrialized societies, where being thin corresponds with being attractive (Post). It is not clear as to what directly causes an eating disorder to start, but there are some risk factors than can contribute. Many things can drive a person over the edge and make her turn into something she would ...

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