Informative Speech: Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa
Purpose: The purpose of this speech is to inform my audience about the eating disorder anorexia nervosa.
Thesis: In order to be able to get a clear understanding of what anorexia nervosa is, it is important to learn what characterizes it, what effects it has on a person, and how the disorder can be treated.
Organizational Pattern: Topical
I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: I want you to imagine your worst fear. Now, think of it intensified to the point where you constantly think about it and you are faced with something that provokes this fear at least three times a day. This gives you an idea as to what a day in the life of somebody with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa looks like, except their worst fear is gaining weight and food is what provokes this fear.

Relevance of topic to audience: Now I’m sure you’re all wondering “OK, what does this have to do with me?” A key reason I wanted to present this topic to you all is because the majority of us in this room fit the criteria for being at risk for an eating disorder. According to Debbie Stanley, an influential member of National Alliance on Mental Illness and author of many books on anorexia including Understanding Anorexia Nervosa, the typical anorexic is a white adolescent female, though males do make up a small percentage them.
C. Credibility. Another reason why I wanted to present this topic is because it is one that I am very familiar with. Almost two years ago, I was clinically diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. I battled with it for 11 long months, but through an immense amount of counseling and therapy, I was able to work through it.
D. Thesis/Central Idea: In order to be able to get a clear understanding of what anorexia nervosa is, it is important to learn what characterizes it, what effects it has on a person, and how the disorder can be