Anorexia Nervosa - In the Eyes of an Insider

Author: Olga Kovtun, nutrition student

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the following article are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect those of Foodoc.

In our time, slimness has become one of the components of life success. From the screens, glossy pages, advertising posters, we can observe thin, well-groomed, self-assured girls and boys, who seem to be happy with their lives, success, and glory. However, the pursuit of the ideal sometimes turns into a terrible disaster. Eating disorders kill more people around the world than any other mental illnesses; the most devastating is Anorexia Nervosa.

We all think that we know everything about this disorder and always underestimate it. People, who never faced this problem, may say: "She needs to eat more," "Why her/his parents do not feed their child?", "She is already skinny," "She has to stop starving," etc. In reality, the answers to these statements are simple - she can't eat more, parents cannot feed their child, and she thinks she is fat. I have some experience in facing and treating this problem, and I can assure you - the mental ability of the brain to adequately perceive reality, surrounding, and itself is entirely distorted. The body weight reducing starts to be the main goal in life, to see the desired number on the scales is an “idee fixe.” Anorexic people tend to avoid different social events, family reunions, meetings with friends, dates with opposite sex, etc. So, they are likely to have antisocial attitudes, devoting time and energy to lose another pound or see skinnier hips in the mirror. Anything that can distract them from this goal, such as family, friends, school, and job is a waste a time, useless and worthless. The moment when the desired weight is achieved will never happen because the anorexic girl or boy is continuously fat for herself. The end can be fatal, and it is not a rare situation. Anyway, any problem solving has to start from finding out the cause of such life-threaten disease.

Some people can only break down the life with one word. Why I lost 20 kg in 3 months? My world collapsed with my dad words - "You are fat, and your ass is bigger than a dirty pig has." Of course, my weak and dependent mind created a myth that I cannot be loved; I have to lose a lot of kgs to deserve love. These words made me hit the gym, reduce my calories, and my mirror showed not the thin girl but fat on my hip, a disgusting tummy, and big cheeks. This is my situation, and it is the most common cause of Anorexia Nervosa. Family and peers are the main contributors to the disease; as well as only them can help patients to survive. It is essential to stop the disease in time, to support the anorexic and help her to get medical help if any of the symptoms are observed.

Since food is a fuel for our body, dietary restrictions can lead to radical changes related to health. Weight loss remains the most noticeable, but not the most important of them. Regular malnutrition leads to problems with the heart, constipation, low blood pressure, osteoporosis, edema on the hands and feet, abnormal blood counts, irregular periods, dehydration and insomnia. The consequences of anorexia are often deplorable and sad, and without the help of relatives to begin treatment of patients with anorexia is not realistic. Anorexia patients deny their problem and disease. It is possible to avoid tragedy in the family only with the participation of relatives who reacted in time to symptoms and signs of anorexia. It must be admitted that in adolescence when the issue of appearance is the number one problem, it is vital not to miss the moment when your child joins to those, who are suffering from anorexia. Keep your child emotionally, do not lower her self-esteem, do not criticize the appearance, give up authoritarian statements towards the girl, stop judging and criticizing. This way you can prevent the occurrence of anorexia and start treating it on time with the necessary symptoms and signs if it is needed.

It is essential to remember that we are all different, all of us are individual. Short and tall, thin and plump - that's what we are different from each other. Each of us should love ourselves as we are. And if you want to change something in your life or appearance, always do it with the mind and sense of moderation. Anorexia is not a fairytale, but the modern reality that has to be eliminated.