Eating disorders like anorexia have the potential to be fatal. If left untreated they cause death in most cases. There are many misconceptions and fallacies about this eating disorder that need clearing up. People need to know how extremely serious this eating disorder, anorexia is, in order to fight this disorder and save themselves and their loved ones.
Fallacy |
Reality |
Only teenagers and more specifically teenage girls suffer from this eating disorder. |
True, many eating disorders begin in the teenage years. However, older men and women and just about anyone are likely to suffer from an eating disorder like anorexia. |
You can never fully recover from an eating disorder. |
False. Recovery from an eating disorder takes a long time, but with hard work and proper treatment, one can fully recover. |
Eating disorders are a problem with food. |
False. Self-image and weight are the real focus of eating disorders. By focusing on food, weight and calories, a person is able to numb painful feelings and emotions. In eating disorders the problem is NOT with food. Not eating is only a symptom of a deeper underlying problem. |
You can detect anorexics by their appearance. |
False. Not all anorexics look the same that is, extremely skinny and skeletal. Anorexics can be anywhere from 5 to 15 lbs. underweight. Only severe anorexics are very thin. |
Anorexics do not eat sweets like candies or chocolates. |
True. Many anorexics avoid such foods on a regular basis, as they contain lots of calories and fat. However in some cases anorexics eat only a candy bar per day as their entire meal. |
Anorexics do not binge or purge |
False. Many anorexics binge and purge. Anorexics can become so fearful of food that they will purge or throw up whatever they eat. |
People cannot have more than one eating disorder. |
False. It is common for someone
to suffer with more than one eating disorder. People who suffer from any eating disorder usually have low self esteem, for them food is the only way to control their lives. Eating disorders are not the problem; they are symptoms of an underlying problem. People with eating disorders usually try to hurt themselves or get or some problem within themselves. |
There are many fallacies and myths about anorexia and they cause a hurdle in better treatment of the disorder. It is important that we understand what this disorder is, in order to get it properly treated.
