Symptoms
People who intentionally starve themselves suffer from an eating
disorder called anorexia nervosa. The disorder, which usually
begins in young people around the time of puberty, involves extreme
weight loss--at least 15 percent below the individual's normal
body weight. Many people with the disorder look emaciated but
are convinced they are overweight. Sometimes they must be hospitalized
to prevent starvation.
People with anorexia typically starve themselves, even though
they suffer terribly from hunger pains. One of the most frightening
aspects of the disorder is that people with anorexia continue
to think they are overweight even when they are bone-thin. For
reasons not yet understood, they become terrified of gaining any
weight.
Food and weight become obsessions. For some, the compulsiveness
shows up in strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front
of others. It is not uncommon for people with anorexia to collect
recipes and prepare gourmet feasts for family and friends, but
not partake in the meals themselves. They may adhere to strict
exercise routines to keep off weight. Loss of monthly menstrual
periods is typical in women with the disorder. Men with anorexia
often become impotent.
Specific Symptoms of this Disorder:
A person who suffers from this disorder is typically characterized
by their refusal to maintain a body weight which is consistent
with their build, age and height. Specifically, a person's body
weight needs to be 85% or less than that which is considered typical
for someone of similar build, age and height.
The individual usually experiences an intense and
overwhelming fear of gaining weight or becoming fat. This fear
is regardless of the person's actual weight, and will often continue
even when the person is near death from starvation. It is related
to a person's poor self-image, which is also a symptom of this
disorder. The individual suffering from this disorder believes
that their body weight, shape and size is directly related to
how good they feel about themselves and their worth as a human
being. Persons with this disorder often deny the seriousness of
their condition and can not objectively evaluate their own weight.
At least three consecutive menstrual cycles must be
missed, if the woman was menstruating previously before the onset
of the disorder. Specifically, a woman is considered to have amenorrhea
if her periods occur only following hormone, e.g., estrogen, administration.
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