Anorexia nervosa is a disorder of self-starvation, which if extreme enough can cause psychological, endocrine and gynecological problems. The disorder affects mostly white girls ages 12 - 18. When you hear the word anorexia you think starvation what about all the other problems that people don't talk about? There are so many other aspect of anorexia. Anorexia is more that just starvation.

The dictionary definition of anorexia nervosa say that anorexia nervosa is the pathological loss of appetite occurring chiefly in young women that is thought to be psychological in origin. ANRED, which stands for Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, defines anorexia nervosa as the relentless pursuit of thinness. Anorexia nervosa consists of a lack of food in ones system.

Whom does it affect? In one article Dove says, " Some reseachers believe that cer

7. Other people talk about the way I eat

Selfhelp Magazine. 4/22/01. Eating disorders: Number one reason for developing an

6. I would rather eat by myself than with family or friends

In conclusion, Anorexia is a very complicated disorder to both diagnose and to cure. There are so many factors to consider in every case that there might never be one cause of anorexia. Anorexia has many different levels, if you think you might have anorexia go see a doctor. Anorexia is more than just starvation.

Joanna Poppink is a marriage, family and child counselor. She specializes in working with people with eating disorders and their families. Joanna has a theory about anorexia; it consists of control and what the anorexic can control. Joanna states, "Early in their lives they experienced, on a sustained basis, relentless boundary invasion on every level." (Poppink 1) The result of such an event can cause an eating disorder among other things. When a person becomes anorexic as a result of invasion they are looking for control over their own lives. They need to feel that they are the only ones who have control over their lives. The anorexia can become very extreme in these cases because the anorexic does not know how to say enough. They did not know how to say it to the invader, nor can they say it to themselves.

http://www.aabainc.org/general/anorexia.html

ANRED. 4/22/01. Anred: Who is at risk? http://www.anred.com/who.html.

21. My eating habits and fear of food interfere with friendships or romantic relationships

dysfunction's, eating disorders and osteoporosis, an increasingly common problem in young female athletes and dancers.

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