Anorexia nervosa may be considered the one of the most common eating disorders that affects troubled teenagers today. It is an eating disorder that may result in a teenager eating very little or even nothing at all for periods at a time because of an intense fear of being fat. But this deliberate starvation may actually leave your teen with a false sense of control. For an anoretic, the lower the weighing scale goes the higher she feels. Down is up. The unhealthier she becomes just makes her think of how much thinner she may be getting. But what she doesn’t understand while she is in the midst of an eating disorder is that she will never be thin enough for the negative mind-set of the existing disorder. Although an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa has been studied to generally affect females more than males, there have also been male cases of the disorder. As a parent, if you notice your child showing any of the signs of the disorder, male or female, it is a good idea to be aware. The reality is that almost 10 percent of the teens that suffer from anorexia nervosa in the United States may die.
Even if your teenager may be displaying characteristics or signs of the disorder, his/her behavior is diagnosed as anorexia nervosa when the following traits are present:
- an exaggerated fear of being fat
A personality trait which has been observed to be common among sufferers of anorexia nervosa is perfectionism. Most anoretics may be achievers who are constantly trying to prove themselves to others. They may try and seek validation of themselves through an eating disorder, while unknowingly moving towards a dead end. It is important to understand that anorexia nervosa may be difficult to detect at the start. Adolescence is a time when the majority of teenagers can become preoccupied with appearance and this is where an innocent diet can become the start of a deep-seated disorder. The following are possible physical effects of the disorder: - yellowish pallor
- significant hair loss
- growth of lanugo (a soft texture of hair that grows as a result of starvation in an effort to keep the body warm)
- amenorrhea or irregular menstrual cycles
- dry skin and unhealthy nails
- low blood pressure
- constipation
- muscle atrophy
If untreated, this disorder may ultimately lead to death from starvation and its extreme effects. |
