| Unfortunately, many people do not understand | | | | suffer the most because society dictates that |
| what anorexia nervosa is and how serious it | | | | "thin is in," and the message can be found |
| can be. It is an eating disorder that can be | | | | everywhere including magazines, movies, |
| life threatening and is seen in individuals | | | | television, etc. They will do anything to be |
| who have a fear of gaining weight. These | | | | thin, and have no idea of the consequences |
| individuals often weigh more than 15% less | | | | involved when anorexia sets in. |
| than what they should weigh and do so by | | | | |
| eating very little. Some anorexics will eat | | | | The effects of anorexia are devastating and |
| and then vomit to eliminate what they have | | | | include damage to the heart and brain due to |
| eaten. | | | | lack of nutrients. The longer the disease |
| | | | goes on, the more likely that a person's |
| Anorexic individuals usually have low | | | | pulse rate and blood pressure will drop |
| self-esteem, are depressed and have a very | | | | dramatically causing irregular heart rhythms |
| distorted image of their bodies. In other | | | | or heart failure. The bones lacking the |
| words, no matter how thin they are, in their | | | | proper nutrients tend to become brittle and |
| minds they are fat. The disease usually | | | | often break, and many people reach a point |
| begins either before or just after puberty. | | | | where they actually starve to death. Anorexia |
| Young girls seem to be the ones who suffer | | | | nervosa has the highest mortality rate among |
| the most from this illness, but it can and | | | | psychiatric illnesses with a six percent |
| increasingly is affecting both sexes of all | | | | death rate among its victims. |
| ages. It is believed that younger women | | | | |