Anorexia nervosa is a serious medical disorder that is statistically most prevalent in the adolescent teenage years of young women. It is estimated that 7% of the population suffers from eating disorders and if left untreated over 20% of them will die from it. Anorexia takes the lives of children everyday in this world and there are things you can do as a parent to identify anorexic behaviors and intervene to protect your children.
Anorexia nervosa is a condition where one becomes obsessed with losing weight and practices self-starvation in an attempt to achieve significant weight loss or to maintain extremely unhealthy level of body weight. Anorexics are terrified of gaining weight, and often believe they are very fat even though they are already very thin.
Anorexia is not just a condition related to food and eating, but takes its roots from a deeper psychological level. Food and eating becomes a destructive tool that one uses to deal and cope with other emotional problems. Anorexics will often reach out to other anorexics on the internet in "pro-ana" sites whereby they encourage each other to continue their weight loss journey. Pro-ana sites argue that anorexia is a lifestyle choice and not an actual disorder, and offer dysfunctional support to other victims of the disease. The risk to our youth from eating disorders is significant and there are things you can do as a parent to intervene:
WATCH FOR WARNING SIGNS
Excessive weight loss: A person suffering from anorexia is skinny and may end up losing more that 15% of their ideal body.
Diet restrictions: a person with anorexia continues to restrict foods and diet even when they are not overweight.
Food Obsession: an excessive preoccupation with food, calories, nutrition, or cooking methods is also a sign of anorexic behavior.
Distorted body image: complaints of feeling bloated, nauseated, or fat even when the person is thin or underweight, and also denying feelings of hunger.
Excessive exercising: Anorexia may cause a person to complain about feeling bloated or nauseated even when she eats normal-or less than normal-amounts of food.
Cold Sensitivity: A person suffering from anorexia may feel cold even though the temperature is normal or only slightly cool.
Fatigue: a person suffering with anorexia will often show signs of fatigue and inability to concentrate on most tasks (except food and related weight topics).
Lack of social interaction: living with anorexia nervosa can become complicated when trying to hide it in social settings involving food and eating. Avoidance of social activities that include food is a common sign.
Depressed immunity: a person suffering with anorexia may have a weakened immune system and have frequent colds, illnesses and a general feeling of not feeling well.
Depression: anorexics will often exhibit signs of depression, anxiety, guilt and sadness while struggling with their disorder.
Physical changes: a person with anorexia over time may exhibit tell-tall physical characteristics such as; downy hair growth on the face, loss of menstruation cycles, dry nails, dry hair, constipation, headaches and possible hair loss.
Internet behaviors: a person with anorexia may be visiting pro-anorexic sites on the internet that offers encouragement and support of this disorder. Check your computers browser cache to review the history of websites it has visited.
If you suspect that one of your family members is suffering from anorexia nervosa it is important to take action now to arm yourself with information about the disorder and steps you can work towards to provide help and assistance. For more information on the types of treatment methods available you can visit: http://www.anorexiabulimiahelp.com/eating-disorders-treatment.htm
S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, correspondent, and contributing editor of the Anorexia Bulimia Help resource site and can be reached at http://www.anorexiabulimiahelp.com
bmw rental chicago Bensenville .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareQ. When you consult with a family with teens, what... Read More
Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More
'Picky Eater' is a label coined to describe the phenomenon... Read More
Something happened the other day that made me feel uneasy.... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
For many adults, reading a book or newspaper seems effortless.... Read More
Do you really want your child to enjoy playing with... Read More
An Awesome Dad in by no means perfect. But that... Read More
Parents, when you help your children learn to read, you... Read More
There may really be a real monster under your kid???s... Read More
So you want to be a mum? Every time you... Read More
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
Being a single mother is no easy task. I know.... Read More
"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it... Read More
Night Visits From Your ChildIn the middle of the night... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
Lets face it becoming a mum is a bit of... Read More
"No thank you. Don't bother to send me the report... Read More
Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More
The First Reason: For one thing, child development experts are... Read More
You send your child to school and the teachers teach... Read More
Dan Rather made a significant and tactical error and got... Read More
Most of us really don't like it when someone is... Read More
Minus all meningitis thoughts. The flu symptons were strong. Headache,... Read More
Have you heard the song; "I Hope You Dance"? It... Read More
Breese limo service at o'hare ..If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More
Is there a way to build a robot to help... Read More
Do you praise your child when he fulfils a basic... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
It was at that time when our marriage was falling... Read More
If your child is to derive the benefits of physical... Read More
What is the mystery of motherhood? I know that when... Read More
Q. We are getting to the stage with our kids... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
Do you have a young child whose weight or eating... Read More
The initial state of happiness about an own child is... Read More
Once your little boy/girl goes off to school, you may... Read More
Child Safety Restraints and children in work vehiclesIf you take... Read More
Question 1 "How do I get more time to play?"... Read More
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More
The time you will need to teach your children the... Read More
Finding out that a child has been born with a... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comLegacy to Your ChildrenIt's 6:30... Read More
Q. How do I overcome the 16-year-old who does things... Read More
Do you know what these famous people have in common?Alexander... Read More
People always ask my wife and I: "How did you... Read More
"It takes a village to raise a child" is more... Read More
Paula's last child had just gone off to college and... Read More
The teenage years are a crucial time in a child's... Read More
Parenting |