Anorexia

            Anorexia has been identified as on the rise in the West, in societies which themselves are increasingly obsessed with food, diet, shape and body image. Anorexia Nervosa is said to arise in a culture that makes eating a problematic conversion of nature by culture.
             Anorexia Nervosa can be described as involving the gross and inappropriate entanglement of two issues on the one hand, weight and eating control, and, on the other, what might be described as personal and emotional control. From this, it can be seen that Anorexia Nervosa is not simply a "weight phobia" or a strong desire to attain physical beauty, but like other mental illnesses, seemed to have stemmed or duly formed by previous experiences which has helped shape the individual.
             Currently, one in every 200 girls becomes anorexic. Of these, 50% will recover, although some never have a good relationship with food. Of the remaining 50%, 45% will have an ongoing problem with food, and 5% will die from medical complications such as heart failure or suicide. (p.3)net www.spinneypress .
             Current information obtained state that females develop the disease at a higher rate than males; however it is estimated that 17% of males are on some form of diet and that steroid abuse and exercise disorders are increasing in the young male population. High risk groups include wrestlers, jockeys, dancers, gymnasts, runners, models, actresses, entertainers, male homosexuals and perhaps more alarmingly female university students. 94% of Australian female university students wan to be slimmer - although 31% are already underweight. (facts and figures). .
             Current health information collected report that more than half of anorexia sufferers have been sexually abused or experienced some other major trauma. (p.3) .
             Anorexia Nervosa is not simply a vain attempt to loose weight which resulted in a severe repercussion. A new patient may believe her eating disorder is caused by food.