Extreme and dangerous weight loss methods and attempts to gain the "perfect"body are common these days, especially for teenagers. This is demonstrated by a 1993 study of dieting behaviour of teenage boys and girls, and conducted by La Trobe University in Melbourne, which found 48 percent of the girls and 26 percent of the boys had tried to lose weight by extreme methods characteristic of anorexia and bulimia. There is also evidence that body-image dissatisfaction and preoccupation with weight loss are becoming increasingly common in children, especially 9 to 12 years old.
Anorexia nervosa is often known as the "slimmer's disease" an inadequate term as it fails to express the serious and dangerous nature of this condition. The often-heard comment:"I wish I could have anorexia for a while" betrays a deep misunderstanding of the grip this disorder has on its sufferers. Anorexia nervosa is a horrible psychological and physical disorder which is potentially fatal. Up to 20 percent of severe anorexia sufferers may die from the disorder-- most commonly by not eating, electrolyte, abnormalities or suicide. The vast majority of sufferers are teenage girls though it is found in all ages as well as in males. Because it has such a strong effect on the person's thinking and behaviour, recovery is hard even with help-- and almost impossible without it. For this reason, the goals of recovery must include changing anorexic thinking and behaviour patterns, as well as regaining a healthy weight. Essentially there are two types of anorexia behaviour, though the same person may use both at different times.
The first is known as the "restricting" type of anorexia, as it involves self-imposed starvation by extreme dieting and fasting. The other is referred to as the "bingeing/purging" type because as well as restricting food intake, there are episodes of out-of-control eating and purging-- usually by vomiting or using laxatives. Both types usually include compulsive, excessive exercising. The full-blown clinical condition of anorexia nervosa has the following characteristics: The refusal to maintain or reach a minimum normal and healthy weight. This low weight is achieved mainly through self-starvation and excessive exercise. Appetite suppressants may also be taken. Vomiting or the use of laxatives, enemas or diuretics, is common. There is an intense fear of gaining weight or getting fat, even for underweight anorexics. This does not stop when weight is lost-- in fact, the fear and the compulsion to starve often intensify the lower the weight becomes. Anorexia sufferers are intensely preoccupied with thoughts about food and will become highly selective in what they will allow themselves to eat-- especially avoiding carbohydrates and fats. Meals, and how to avoid them, are planned hours before they are due. Sometimes the preoccupation with food is directed into preparing food-- often quite fattening food-- for others, especially family members, while the anorexic herself abstains. One Anorexic described this as "redistributing my fat quota".
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