Anorexia Nervosa is a mental disorder that affects many people each year. Untreated, it can easily result in death. It is also one of the most difficult diseases to treat because the individual has a distorted view of their self image, causing them to feel that they are unattractive and overweight. Although it occurs most frequently among young women, it can occur in men and older adults as well.

There are countless reasons as to why an individual may become anorexic. Studies have shown that individuals with anorexia often “value achievement and outward appearance more than an inner sense of self-worth and self-actualization.” They are often like robots trying to conform to others’ image of what is ideal. By most researchers, the most prevalent cause for this mental disorder is “the media’s pressure of displaying a set norm for the female body.” In most cases, people with anorexia are high achievers and religiously work out. They usually have “distorted images of their bodies that causes them to believe that they could improve their looks or performance by decreasing their weight.” Anorectics avoid high caloric foods and obsessively count calories for each food they eat. This is different from calorie awareness or counting for weight management.

Some of the physical consequences of this disease suffer all the symptoms of individuals who starve to death.

Physical Effects of Anorexia (Similar to starvation):

1. Heart pumping less efficiently, heart muscles becoming weak and thin, chambers growing smaller, and blood pressure falling.
2. Sudden stopping of the heart due to lean tissue loss accounts for many cases of sudden death among severely emaciated subjects.
3. Reduced blood proteins.
4. Increased fine body hair.
5. Skin dryness
6. Complaints of not feeling rested
7. Amenorrhea (menstrual cycle loss)

Symptoms of Anorexia as defined by the American Psychiatric Association:

1. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above minimally normal weight for age/height
2. Intense fear of gaining weight, being fat, even when underweight.
3. Amenorrhea (absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles)

Although anorexics may be aware that they are becoming less healthy, they are unable to take control and stop the behavior. Usually, criticism from others causes the anorexia to worsen. Anorexic individuals will go to great lengths to deceive family, doctors, therapists, and friends. This makes early detection and treatment more difficult.

Then, what are the similarities and differences between Anorexia and Bulimia? Bulimia is the most prevalent eating disorder. The most common behaviors that often are aware of are self-induced vomiting and self-induced bowel movement. Generally, the bulimics usually maintain close to normal weight, however, bingeing followed by purging or vomiting occurs on a regular basis. Nearly 1/5^th of college-age females may display bulimic behaviors.

Like anorexics, bulimics tend to base their self-esteem on appearance and they generally have low self-image. Anorexics are often described as being very realistic and goal-oriented whereas bulimics have a “fantasy life.” They believe they could have the best of both worlds.

Physical effects of Bulimia often include:

1. Damage to the teeth
2. Irritation of the throat
3. Esophageal inflammation, swollen salivary glands
4. Broken blood vessels in the face
5. Cracked damaged lips
6. Rectal bleeding
7. Dehydration
8. Ruptures in upper gastrointestinal tract
9. Kidney damage

Symptoms of Bulimia as defined by the American Psychiatric Association:

1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating
2. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain such as vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, fasting, etc.
3. Average of two binge-purge episodes a week for at least 3 months
4. Over-concern with body shape and weight
5. Lack of control over binges

To put it simply, anorectics are hospitalized when they are 20% below their body weight. Then they go on a series of weight gaining programs. Like alcoholics and drug users, percentage of relapse is great. Thus they go on various behavior modification therapy, but they are often unsuccessful as well. The reason for it is because a therapist’s job is to correct an anorectic’s stubborn attachment to false beliefs about food and their self-image.

With bulimics, treatment is much easier because they often want to be treated. They are often treated with a course on nutrition and balanced meals. They often go on therapies that often help them to boost their self-image and self-confidence.

Regardless of the type of eating disorder one may have, whether they are an anorexic, bulimic, or an overeater, there is an underlining trait to all sufferers. “Victims often feel as though they are not good enough, that they never do anything right, that they are scrutinized by others for their appearance, and that their lives would get better if they could just lose weight.” Victims can feel like they do not deserve to be happy, “that they don’t deserve to have anything but what is felt as a miserable existence.” They often feel like a burden to others, trivialize their own problems and feel as though other people deserve help more than them.

The founder of Providence church constantly reminds us that only when we understand and realize the value of ourselves can we start valuing others. He also emphasizes the beauty of each person’s uniqueness. In a society and era where beauty standards are drawn out for us, constant comparisons and putting ourselves down in the process can result in such eating disorders. However, if we can understand the value of ourselves and the beauty in being different and unique, there is hope that eating disorders can be healed. Let us first be strong to NOT conform to the trends of our society (such as waifs, twiggies, or super-skinny models). Instead, why not appreciate our bodies as is and strive for health from there? And conclusively, healing for eating disorders begin with the mind and the spirit.