You might know that: • Anorexia nervosa is not a fad diet, but a serious illness that requires medical attention and counseling. • Anorexia nervosa kills. A thousand girls with anorexia will die every year. • Eating disorders, anorexia being one of them, affect five million Americans. 1% of the American population is anorexic. 10% of anorexics are male. But who exactly qualifies as an anorexic? An anorexic is someone who • is 85% or less of his or her recommended body weight • may see him or herself as overweight when not • is terrified of gaining weight or becoming fat • is obsessive about losing weight • will take drastic health measures to become thin. So why do people become anorexic? There seems to be many risk factors. Before being diagnosed, many anorexics felt out of control of their lives. They began to focus on their weight loss and saw results. In other words, anorexia gave them a false sense of control. Of course, the illness later controlled them.Anorexia is also more common in cultures where being thin is fashionable. Other areas where image is important, such as numerous athletic and social circles, additionally have a greater percentage of anorexic persons. There are also believed to be genetic connections to the illness. Depression is often a factor, too, as well as perfectionism. What can others do to help? Although anorexia can lead to death, “80% of people with eating disorders who seek treatment either recover completely or make significant progress” (ANRED).This is why it is so important to... Look for these warning signs in yourself and others: obsession with food intake strange food combinations extreme dieting or calorie restriction compulsive exercise rapid weight loss being extremely thin lying about eating behavior negative body image or low self-esteem depression moodiness and sensitivity to cold And especially watch out for various forms of other abuse!!! Anorexics are known to hurt themselves further by abusing diet pills, enemas, and laxatives!However, even without these various forms of abuse, an anorexic is still in…If you or someone you know is anorexic, DO NOT keep it secret! This is what can happen: • kidney and liver damage • weakened immune system • loss of bone mass • cardiac arrest • infertility • DEATH And these are only some of the health complications associated with anorexia! Drug, enema, and laxative abuse can complicate and make all of these symptoms worse! When someone’s body does not get proper nutrition or is abused with things such as drugs, it does not function properly and almost anything and everything can go wrong. Do not wait to help someone who has anorexia. One of the best things you can do for a sufferer of anorexia is to make sure his or her health does not become worse. So here is… • If you suspect someone else of being anorexic, then gently confront them. The website ANRED, or Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc., has good information on how to talk to someone about an eating disorder. Look here: http://www.anred.com/hlp.html • Tell someone else! A doctor or a school counselor could help right away.• ANAD, or the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, provides a help hotline at (847) 831-3438. ANAD’s website address, for more information about eating disorders, is http://www.anad.org/site/anadweb/ Also, if you want to lose weight… CHOOSE THE HEALTHY WAY. Ask your doctor to help you come up with a diet and exercise plan that will help you lose weight safely and effectively. For more tips and ideas on healthy dieting and weight loss, go here: http://www.coolnurse.com/dieting.htmSources used for this webpage: ANAD: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. 25 Sept. 2004. http://www.anad.org ANRED: Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. 2004. 25 Sept. 2004. http://www.anred.com DeAngelis, Tori. “A Genetic Link to Anorexia.” Monitor on Psychology 33.3 (2002). Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. 25 Sept. 2004. http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html National Institute of Mental Health. 2001. 25 Sept. 2004. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/ed5 Santrock, John W. Adolescence. Boston: McGraw-Hill,