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Anorexia is a serious and potentially life-threatening
eating disorder characterized by self-starvation, low body
weight and body image distortion with an obsessive fear of
gaining weight.
Myth #1: Only teenage (Caucasian) girls have
anorexia.
Eating disorders can affect anyone--no matter what their
gender, race, age, sexual preference, profession, religious
or cultural background. Consider this:
One out of ten eating disorder sufferers is male.
Children as young as four years old can develop eating
disorders
Individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s can also suffer
from eating disorders, either having developed them during
adolescence or even in mid-life.
Myth #2: Anorexia is the only serious eating
disorder.
Even though anorexia has the highest mortality rate of
all eating disorders, every form of this disease can do
serious, long-term damage to the body and in extreme cases
end in the sufferer's death, most commonly by cardiac arrest
or suicide.
Myth #3: You can tell if someone has Anorexia
- they are super-skinny and look like "skeletons."
Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. In many
cases, it is not possible to tell if someone has an eating
disorder simply by looking at them. Most sufferers look
"normal." In fact, that can be one of the most dangerous
things about this disease - sufferers can hide them perfectly
for months, years and sometimes, even a lifetime.
Most anorexics don't look like the extreme cases shown
on television (ie. like walking skeletons). Such a person
may look thin, but don't necessarily look "sick".
Myth #4: Anorexics don't eat.
Anorexics do eat, just less. When they do eat, they tend
to be very picky. What differentiates them from most of
the general population is their constant, around-the-clock
obsession with food and weight.
In reality, total discontinuation of all food intake would
result in death from malnutrition in a matter of weeks.
Myth #5: Anorexia is about food and weight.
Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders are not about
food, weight, appearance or beauty. They are an attempt
to use food and weight to deal with underlying psychological
problems. An eating disorder is simply the symptom of something
deeper going on inside.
Because eating disorders are not about food, saying 'just
eat" to an anorexic or "stop purging" to a bulimic does
not help.
Eating disorders are a complex disorder and require the
assistance of both a trained professional and a willingness
by the sufferer to want to get better in the first place.
Myth #6: Once you have an eating disorder,
you're stuck with it forever.
Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible. In fact,
it's more common to recover than not. All it takes is a
willingness to get better, as well as help and support from
friends, family and trained professionals.
If you unfortunately suffer from an eating disorder, know
that you are not alone. Reach out for help and support to
get you started on your road to recovery.
"All she ever wanted was to look like those
beautiful and perfect models in the fashion magazines... but
what happened to her? She had become the living death. Her
starved body ached all the time and she felt constantly weak.
Her skin bruised and her muscles hurt. Her period stopped,
her hair fell out, her skin was dry and her face was pale...
Now, is that beautiful? The truth is, there is nothing glamorous
nor beautiful about a starving person."
Anorexia is a serious and potentially life-threatening
eating disorder -- if you suffer from anorexia, or any other
eating disorder, get help right away! There is hope and eating
disorders can be overcome!
It is common that someone suffering from anorexia
has low self-esteem which can quickly lead to a negative body
image of oneself. An anorexic may see another person and think
"I wish I was as skinny as her" and in reality, may actually
be thinner. They don't see themselves as thin as they really
are and have an inaccurate perception of their body and cannot
see their own good traits, especially in comparison to others,
because of the low self-esteem they have of themselves. A
person with anorexia can look in the mirror and actually see
a 'fat' person.
Some sufferers with an eating disorder assume
there is something 'wrong' with their bodies when they cannot
fit into some "standard" size and others will reject a pair
of jeans simply because they won't wear a particular size.
Anorexia is an extremely serious disease, as it is life-threatening.
Fortunately, people with this eating disorder can get well,
can learn to eat normally again and can learn to respect and
love themselves for whom they are.
Anorexia involves the mind and the body, so psychological
and medical help (provided from such as health doctors, psychologists,
therapists, clinical social workers, dietitians) is beneficial
and necessary in most cases.
In extreme cases of anorexia, hospitalization is required
for treatment. It is very unlikely for sufferers from anorexia
to be able to successfully get out of the cycle without professional
help.
Quotes from people with anorexia...
"I finally broke down and admitted to myself that I had a
problem. Being anorexic is exhausting, mentally and physically.
My body was starving and eating itself. Anorexia was overtaking
my life and I hated it."
"When I look at pictures of me from then I think: I looked
so sick and disgusting!"
The number of people with eating disorders is dramatically
rising. An estimated ten to 15 percent of people with anorexia
are males. Five to ten percent of those suffering from anorexia
may die as a result of suicide, from depression caused by
the illness, malnutrition, or heart problems.
Several studies suggest that the most common eating disorder
is Binge Eating Disorder, followed by EDNOS (Eating Disorder
Not Otherwise Specified) and then Bulimia. Anorexia is, per
capita, the least common of the main group. The only reason
it has a higher profile than the others is due to media influences
and the fact that it is the most notable from a physical point
of view.
Sufferers from eating disorders (be it anorexia, bulimia
or any other disorder) most likely experience difficulties
during their pregnancy and put their lives and the life of
their baby in danger. They have higher rates of miscarriages
and their baby may be born prematurely which puts them at
risk for many medical problems. It is important for all pregnant
women to receive proper prenatal care and have regular pre-natal
visits. In addition, an enrollment in a prenatal exercise
class is a good idea.
For more detailed information on eating disorders and pregnancy
- please click here.
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Are Not
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Inspiring collection of personal recovery stories,
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Foreword by Dr.Anita Johnston (author
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RECOVERY MUSIC Also included in the book is the You Are Not
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Not
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women who are either in strong recovery or fully recovered.