Essay - Anorexia Nervosa Is Defined in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative...

Anorexia Nervosa is defined in the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine as "an eating disorder characterized by unrealistic fear of weight gain, self-starvation, and conspicuous distortion ***** body image. The fourth edition of ***** Diagnostic ***** Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM-IV (1994), defines two subtypes of anorexia nervosa--a restricting type, characterized by strict dieting and exercise without binge eating--and a *****-e*****ting/purging *****, marked by episodes ***** compulsive eating with or without self-induced vomiting and the use of laxatives ***** enem*****. DSM-IV defines a binge as a time-limited (usually under ***** hours) episode of compulsive ***** in which the *****dividual consumes a significantly larger amount of food than most people would eat in similar circumstances."

***** *****cidence of eating disorders, especially anorexia, is increasing at a worrisome r*****e. During ***** past three decades the prevalence has increased dramatically. (Tenore) reports an overall incidence of approximately five percent of the population of ***** United States.

Although eating disorders generally occur in adolescents, they are now seen much more *****ten in children ********** adults, including the elderly. Also, it was originally thought that only 5% of anorexics are male, but that estimate is being revised upward. The peak age range for onset of the disorder is 14-18 years, although there are patients who develop anorexia as late as their 40s. In the 1970s and 1980s, ***** was regarded as a ***** of upper- and middle-cl*****s women, but ***** generalization is also changing. More recent studies indicate that anorexia is increasingly common among women of all races and social classes in the ***** States.

Anorexia nervosa combines pathological thoughts and behaviors about food ***** weight with negative emotions concerning appearance, eating and food. ********** thoughts, feelings ***** behaviors lead to changes in body composition and function*****g ***** are the direct result of starvation. As a result, among ***** the illness severely effects physical, emotional and social development. In addition, there ***** a f*****ir amount ***** evidence that suggests that anorexia nervosa often co-*****s ***** other psychiatric ***** ***** depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. (Lock). This makes not only diagnosing ***** nervosa, ***** also treating it a serious difficulty.

***** is important therefore ***** study ***** understand some of the causes of anorexia nervosa and the displayed ***** in order to provide help and support for ***** many people, ***** adolescent girls afflicted w*****h this condition.

There is no one simple answer ***** the causes of anorexia. Some or all ***** the following could be woven toge*****r to produce starving, stuffing ***** purging in *****one. There are biological factors ********** are ********** with psychological factors. Some personality types, such as Obsessive-Compulsive and Sensitive-Avoidant, are ***** vulnerable to eating d**********s. Anorexics gener*****y were described as good children- eager to ple*****e, hard working and good students. Typically they ***** people pleasers who seek approval ***** avoid conflict. It is felt that it is this striving ***** perfection that leads to feeling inadequate and defective. ***** often leads to stress and ***** which leads to