anorexia

Anorexia Nervosa, A serious mental disorder, where people (usually females) have a strong need to lose weight, a feeling that they're never good enough, often self-inducing starvation, excessive exercise, and many times engaging in other self-destructive behaviors. People do not realize that Anorexia is a disease, and lord knows that if I could just "get rid" of it I would. It is HELL. DSM-IV criteria include: -Failure to maintain a minimally healthy weight, feeling they are too fat even though underweight -Anorrhea(Loss of 3 or more consecutive mestural cycles) Health Risks include: anemia osteoporosis malnutrition hypoglycemia loss of hair lowered body tempature Lanugo (growth of fine hair on the back and arms due to lack of fat to warm the body) dark bruises around the eyes due to protien deficiency ulcers tearing of the intestines due to lack of food