Ana Anorexia
Ana Anorexia is an eating disorder that mainly effects teenagers but can occur in younger children and in adults as well. It is not just a health problem found in females, it is also a problem in males. About 10 percent of all the people with anorexia or bulimia are males. It is just not noticed in the male population as much as it is in females. About 1 percent of all female adolescents have anorexia. That is about one out of every one hundred females between the ages of 10 and 20 have eating disorders. Anorexia can cause some very serious health issues and even death if not taken care of in time. There are usually serious health problems before a victim seeks medical help. They feel that losing weight is more important than their health so they keep dieting until their body can take no more. Anorexia can cause problems for every organ in the body. The heart, brain, and kidneys can be damaged so badly that it can not be reversed. Other health issues anorexic victims may face is anemia, bone loss which increases the risk of bone fractures, lung problems resembling emphysema, the absence of a period in females, decreased testosterone in males, constipation, bloating, nausea, low blood potassium, low sodium, and low chloride. There are mental problems as well as physical problems with anorexia. The victim may become depressed, have anxiety disorders, personality disorders and mood swings, obsessive compulsive disorder, and drug abuse.
Anorexia is an illness and can take over the victims life. They may think about food all of the time and spend hours worrying about it. There are biological, psychological, and sociocultural reasons for the onset of anorexia. Sometimes the person feels they have to lose weight because they are fat, they are not as skinny as the models they see on television or in magazines, or they just do not feel good about themselves because they have low self esteem. Anorexia may be partially caused because there is a member of the family that has an eating disorder. There may be a genetic link. The person may have a strong drive for perfection and therefore they never think they are thin. Their mind tells them they need to keep losing weight. Some of the situations that increase the possibility of anorexia are dieting, unintentional weight loss ( because of an accident or illness), weight gain, and puberty. Those who face puberty sometimes have a problem facing the changes their bodies are going through and also face a lot of peer pressure. Children (and even adults) can sometimes be very cruel and criticize or make fun of those who are overweight or are not the best looking person on the block. Life is full of pressures and some people are just not strong enough to cope.
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