Anorexia Recovery & Treatment

Anorexia is an eating disorder that affects a large number of women worldwide and in some of the cases; it goes undiagnosed for months or even years. Diagnosing the disease in its early stages increases the chances of fast recovery and by knowing what actually causes anorexia and the symptoms to look out for immensely helps combat this condition for good. Given below are 13 facts you should know about Anorexia. These facts will help you to understand anorexia better and avoid complications of any kind:

1. This eating disorder is commonly found in females in the age group of 15 to 24 years, although statistics show that it is affecting even younger girls. About 1 – 2 percent of females in their teens develop anorexia, which continues till their early 20’s. About 10 to 15 percent of the anorexics die due the complications that arise. Approximately 5 people out of 10 people suffering from anorexia make a full comeback and a complete recovery. People with Anorexia weigh a staggering 15% below what would be the normal weight according to their height, and sometimes an even higher percentage.
2. Anorexics may be the target of lower blood pressure and body temperature, abnormal heart rates and also electrolyte imbalances. They also have other health problems such as increased cavities and tooth enamel erosion.
3. Anorexics usually exercise and diet to the highest extent which ultimately results in acute body thinness. This is mainly because of the huge peer pressure and the increasing demands from the modern society to have a perfect body.
4. Anorexia seems to be much more prevalent in Caucasian and Hispanic females when compared to their Asian and Black counterparts.
5. Women affected with anorexia will not experience a normal menstrual cycle.
6. Due to the lack of essential vitamins and minerals in the diet, anorexia sufferers may begin to have a soft hair growth on various parts of the body.
7. Anorexics have this mental fear that they will gain weight and become fat, because of which they end up highly limiting their diets. Even after bringing down their weight to the maximum and becoming drastically thin, they still see a crooked image of themselves in the mirror, and envision having a heavy body.
8. Almost 40% of the anorexics will suffer from bone thinning or osteoporosis.
9. Anorexia can eventually lead to serious complications such as kidney infections and kidney failure.
10. Anorexics tend to avoid attending any kind of social gatherings so that they aren’t faced with a situation where they must eat.
11. People suffering from anorexia generally have this strong feeling of being bloated even after a small meal, as their stomach tends to shrink due to the disease.
12. The low body weight causes anorexics to often showcase a high level of intolerance towards cold temperatures.
13. Young females suffering from this condition experience a slow growth rate, which can result in a short body stature.

Last but not the least, it’s important that proper medical care is given to the anorexic to help him or her get back to normal. An appropriate medical treatment often includes the role of physicians, dieticians, psychiatric professionals and family/friends, who can help the people with anorexia in achieving a fast, successful recovery.