In the modern world with fashion industry’s standards of beauty eating disorders are still on a balanced rise. “You can never be too thin” peer demands and daily magazine covers with ultra-thin models or stars make us only too conscious of our own flaws. What is not shown are the statistics: 20% of people with anorexia will end up dead. Anorexia nervosa, like most eating disorders, usually starts during puberty, but it can also affect adults and children. Recent studies indicate that the age of onset of anorexia is getting younger and younger, starting as early as 7 years of age. Though most commonly associated with teenage girls and adult women, it is estimated that 10% of reported cases of anorexia are boys and adult men. These numbers could be false, since anorexia is pegged as a “female disorder” and men might have difficulties admitting to the disease.People who have anorexia are obsessed with being thin and will usually go to any lengths to achieve and maintain this. They can’t see themselves through others’ eyes and often perceive themselves as fat. As a result, they will literally starve themselves in the name of “beauty”. Obsession with calorie counting, taking laxatives and diet pills or diuretics (drugs that elevate the amount of urine excretion), sometimes bulimia (inducing vomiting after a meal) and excessive exercising are the most common signs of this disease; as is hiding food or lying about food consumption. F...
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