Anorexia Nervosa

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Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is most prevalent in adolescent girls and young women. It is distinguished by the loss of at least 15% of the expected body weight (Long). The disease is characterized by the obsessive fear of gaining weight; through this fear, the person engages in dangerous dieting habits that prevent weight gain. According to statistics in 2011 anorexia is categorized as the third most common chronic disease among adolescents, in addition, eating disorders also have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness (Wilkins). Anorexia is a life-threatening disorder that I have only been slightly aware of. I was aware that anorexia was characterized by a serious amount of weight loss however, I never expected two of my best friends’ lives to be ruled by this disorder. In the beginning of my freshman year at college, I found that my friends were losing weight, they were already on the lean side. However they appeared to be getting even smaller. A few months later I was shocked to overhear a phone call from their mother with mine. My two best friends are twins, and their mother noticed their weight loss. She began to worry so she made the difficult decision to take them to the doctor. Things progressed quickly, they began seeing a weight doctor and a psychologist. Because they lived in Florida, I had a difficult time believing that this disease could be so serious. However, when they visited me during fall semester, I was shocked to hug them and find that they were skin and bones. When going to a restaurant with me I was even more shocked by how argumentative and volatile they were at the dinner table, and how they argued with one another. They counted each piece of food on their plate and ate extremely... ... middle of paper ... ...pr 2011. < http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa/>. Crow, S.J. et al. "Eating Disorders Statistics." ANAD. National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 2009. Web. 20 Apr 2011. . “Eating Disorders Growing More Common." Today’s Science On File: n. pag. Today’s Science. Facts On File News Services, 30 Nov. 1995. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. . "Health Guide: Anorexia Nervosa." The New York Times Health Guide. The New York Times, 07/02/2011. Web. 20 Apr 2011. . Long, M.D, Phillip. "Anorexia Nervosa." Mental Health. World Health Organization, 2011. Web. 20 Apr 2011. .

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