Introduction
Anorexia nervosa also known as Anorexia is an eating disorder mainly characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of body image (1✔). Some of the physical signs of anorexia are thinning hair, dry, flaky skin and cracked or broken nails.
Facts About Anorexia:
- Anorexia is an eating disorder that is linked to mental illness, as the person struggles with body image, and also adopts unusual eating habits to change appearances (2✔).
- According to Women's Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Anorexia can be genetic or caused by psychological issues like coping skills, family trouble or social issues (3✔).
- Anorexia is more common among girls, and younger women when compared with boys, men, and some older women (4✔).
- Teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 19 and young women in their early 20's are considered to be at the highest risk. Eating disorders among adolescent girls have increased over the last 50 years (5✔).
- Eating disorders such as anorexia can also occur in older women. In one study it was found that 13% of American women who had the disorder, were over 50.
- The lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa in adults was about 0.6%.
- Twin and adoption studies prove the hereditary nature of eating disorders. There is a 50% chance of developing eating disorders if the other twin has them (6✔).
- Every year, approximately 5 million Americans are affected by anorexia nervosa.
- According to a peer-reviewed journal, Current Psychiatry Reports, it has been estimated that a total of about 1.2 percent of population above the age of 15 years have suffered from anorexia at some point in their lives (7✔).
- No cure is currently available for anorexia. However, recovery can be made with well-rounded psychological treatment programs, where the person is made to understand the disorder and manage its symptoms (8✔).
