Anorexia
People watch television, read magazines, and face the society's image of the perfect body image on a daily basis. Television shows portray stick thin women such as Calista Flockheart, Jennifer Aniston, and Courtney Cox along with many others, to be what is desirable. Magazines show lanky skin and bone girls in ads for things such as perfume and clothing and are filled with the latest fads in dieting. And the public in general is not accepting of people that are "over weight." So that leaves American's with two choices; be thin and get accepted, or be heavy and looked down upon. Anorexia is an all too common route many of today's Americans are taking, once they've decided to become socially acceptable. Once they've decided to be skinny. Many people assume that Anorexia Nervosa is only a faze and only effects adolescents, during their high school years. And although ninety percent of these cases do take place during an adolescents high school career, it is not just a faze and it effects people in all age, race, and ethnic groups. (Levenkron 2000, 82) Anorexia Nervosa is a devastating disease that effects millions of lives every year, and more research needs to be done to ensure that there will be more ways to ove
They feel that they are fine with the disease because it has become part of their lifestyle throughout the years. The next rare case is the very young anorexic. The majority of these cases occur because the pre-teen is afraid of the changes that are about to occur in their body, and of the expectations of those around them to act older and more mature. Then there are the males. Many people over look this case completely because of the role men play to the society, the strong protectors, but five to ten percent of American men are suffering from anorexia. ("Anorexia Nervosa" 2000, 2) But this same view is why many male anorexia cases become very serious, because no one notices their weight change, and if they do, the last thing they think is anorexia. Next is the case of an impending death of a parent or a recent death of a parent. In this case, the victim feels as if they have no control over anything, so they control what they don't eat, and it helps them get through their difficult time. Then is serious physical illness case, which again makes them feel helpless and very dependant, so they take control over whatever they can, including their food intake, or lack there of. And finally is the incest victim. After surviving incest the adolescent may feel they can't trust or depend on anyone so they turn to obsessive behavior such as anorexia. (Levenkron 2000, 212) Whatever the case, it is up to the people around the anorexia victim to see there is a problem and get them the help they need. Although there are high risk people, there are also a few rare cases of anorexia nervosa. Among these are the chronic adult case, when the victim is older and has been living with the disease for five years or longer. This case is the toughest one to conquer Not many people realize how destructive anorexia is to its victims; physically and socially. There are many things an Anorexics body goes through because of the lack or
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Approximate Word count = 2135
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)
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