Anorexia

Anorexia

The eating disorder that I choose to analyze for this report is anorexia. This is seen in many people's eyes to be the most deadly mental illness there is. Around 1,000 people a year die from this disorder in which people are starving themselves because they have an overwhelming fear of gaining weight.

Females are much more likely than males to develop this eating disorder. Only one out of three people diagnosed with this disorder are male. The mortality rate among people with anorexia has been estimated at 0.56 percent per year, or approximately 5.6 percent per decade, which is about 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all causes of death among females ages 15-24 in the general population. 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.

There are two different types of anorexics; the restricting type and the binge eating/purging type. The restricting type of anorexics simply restrict their food intake and rarely eat. These people are always counting calories on what little they eat and they also exercise excessively. The second type of anorexia is the purging type or binge eaters. These are people who try to control their weight by purging -- that is, getting rid of food or calories by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas. Some may binge, or eat excessive amounts of food, and then purge. Others may purge after eating only a small amount, such as a single piece of candy.

Both types of anorexia pose a very serious health issue. There are a number of symptoms to look for in this disorder. The physical symptoms include thin appearance, brittle nails, hair that thins or falls out, dizziness or fainting dry skin absence of menstruation fatigue, and dehydration to name a few. And the emotional and behavioral symptoms include refusal to eat, denial of hunger, excessive exercise, lack of emotion, and difficulty concentrating.