Anorexia - A Fatal Disorder

Anorexia is an extremely dangerous and often fatal eating disorder. It is characterized by significant weight loss resulting from excessive dieting. This eating disorder often develops in people who lack self-esteem and have an irrational fear of becoming fat. Anorexic people are so obsessed with dieting that it leads to them to the point of starvation. They can never see themselves as being thin, in their own eyes they are always fat, no matter how little they weigh.

A majority of anorexic sufferers are women; however an increasing number of men are becoming anorexic as well. These people are completely obsessive about exercise and calorie and fat gram counting. For them their self worth is determined by what they do or do not eat. They restrict their food, deny their hunger, use coffee or smoking to avoid eating and have an overwhelming concern with their body image. An estimated 10 to 20% of anorexics eventually die from complications related to this eating disorder. Thus, to maintain their self worth, they are prepared to go to any lengths including starving themselves which in many cases has proved fatal for such people.

Most anorexics always complain of being too fat and feel tremendously guilty or shameful about eating. They frequently check their weight and often use laxatives, diuretics and diet pills to control their weight which causes various mental as well as physical problems for them.

Anorexia Fatality

Girls suffering from anorexia usually stop having menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry. They feel hungry but they suppress their hunger which leads to various illness and problems which are likely to result in fatal consequences.

Anorexia often results in death as due to starvation and other problems caused by hunger, the anorexics may not survive. Due to constant starvation, their bodies my lose immunity to fight any kind of disease or illness and fell an easy prey to death.

Most anorexics are resistant to any attempts of help because they believe that the idea of therapy is seen only as a way to force them to eat. Even the fear of death does not seem to affect them.  It is only when they admit to having a problem and are willing to seek help, they can be treated effectively. Treatment for anorexia is a life long struggle and is cautiously done via a combination of psychological, nutritional and medical care. However, late diagnosis of the disorder and careless attitudes can lead to fatal consequences such as death of the patient.