Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa

Up to thirty million people of all ages and gender suffer from eating disorders. An estimated .5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from a disorder known as Anorexia Nervosa. “Anorexia Nervosa is a psychological disorder in which the individual deliberately and willfully starves, engaging in a “relentless pursuit of thinness” that can be fatal.” (Rumeny pp. 16) Although this eating disorder is prevalent in women, anyone can suffer from it. Anorexia has certain symptoms that can be diagnosed by loved ones and treated with medical assistance. The primary physical symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa include thin appearance, fatigue, insomnia, dehydration, constipation and absence of menstruation. Emotional and behavior symptoms include but are not

A girl who is anorexic struggles to achieve self- esteem and identifies herself through her weight and size. There is no underlying cause for anorexia; “it develops from a complex interplay of physiological, psychological, familial, and cultural factors.” (Rumney pp. 17) Anorexia can be provoked by physiological aspects, spiritual hunger, family dynamics, cultural milieu, and triggering events. Physiological aspects such as separation and individuation correspond to this eating disorder. Girls tend to suffer from this disorder more than males due to the primary fact that separation can evoke the development of Anorexia. “At the center of identity is spirit,” Courtney Martin wrote. “But when identity is a shell, there is no spirit. With an internal world void of significant self-structure, the anorexic experiences an acute emptiness. Food rituals and exercise regiments substitute for real meaning. She cannot fill herself with these. She has no spiritual sustenance.” (Rumney pp. 20) The girl who is

One should consult a doctor about her experience with anorexia and attend therapy sessions to help. Serious cases may lead to hospital stays and rehab centers. The goals of treatment are to restore the individual’s body to a healthy state. Essential components in the treatment of anorexia nervosa include: medical monitoring of individuals physical condition and guidelines to restore and maintain baseline standards of physical health, nutritional assistance as needed to restore nutritional balance and to work towards optimal health and well-being, recognition of the disease, developing a healthy relationship with food, and developing a self. Therapy sessions are also steps in the recovery process to help get a victim of anorexia back to a normal state. Family therapies are best because it “facilitates an open, non-critical expression of feelings and communication that enhances emotional connection among family members.” (Rumney