The term anorexia nervosa was coined in 1873 by Sir William Gull, one of Queen Victoria's personal physicians.The term is of Greek origin: an- (ἀν-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis(ὄρεξις, "appetite"), translating literally to a nervous loss of appetite.
Due to their fear of gaining weight, individuals with this disorder restrict the amount of food they consume. Outside of medical literature, the terms anorexia nervosa and anorexia are often used interchangeably; however, anorexia is simply a medical term for lack of appetite; in AN, appetite dysregulation or alterations in the sensation of fullness are suspected.
Anorexia nervosa is often coupled with a distorted self image which may be maintained by various cognitive biases that alter how individuals evaluate and think about their body, food, and eating. People with anorexia nervosa often view themselves as overweight or not thin enough even when they are underweight.
Anorexia nervosa is diagnosed predominantly in women.In 2013 it resulted in about 600 deaths globally up from 400 deaths in 1990.It is a serious health condition with a high incidence of comorbidity and similarly high mortality rate to serious psychiatric disorders.
More than half of all the girls are concern about their appearance and two in three feel inadequate compared with the media image of the ideal female shapes and the pressure from the media for the "perfect look" has led to the increase of anorexia Nervosa in Africa and the world at large.
So many ladies are so concern about their image because of the competition that exists,the false image portrayed by the media and toys... The thin waistline, flat tummy, hippyish body, and busty boobs that brings about that real life Barbie and Cinderella figure eight shape
When the phrase Anorexia Nervosa is mentioned anywhere, all eyes turn to the female gender because it's believed that body image concern is common amongst women and the male genders are neglected, but this is just untrue and with the high rate of dandies everywhere who are so unduly concerned with having the perfect body image displayed by the media.... That perfect six packs,broad chests and thin waistline
This obsession developed by so many men for the perfect body image has led to Body Dismorphic Disorder(BDD),a preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance an this disorder is reported amongst men in Africa and this disorder coexists with Anorexia Nervosa and other eating disorder.
The craze for the model like shapes and the thinspiration messages and models displayed on the media have led to an increase in the rate of this condition.
Some of the physical effects of anorexia include:
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Source: National Women's Health Information Center
Steps to anorexia recovery
- Admit you have a problem. Up until now, you’ve been invested in the idea that life will be better—that you’ll finally feel good—if you lose more weight. The first step in anorexia recovery is admitting that your relentless pursuit of thinness is out of your control and acknowledging the physical and emotional damage that you’ve suffered because of it.
- Talk to someone. It can be hard to talk about what you’re going through, especially if you’ve kept your anorexia a secret for a long time. You may be ashamed, ambivalent, or afraid. But it’s important to understand that you’re not alone. Find a good listener—someone who will support you as you try to get better.
- Stay away from people, places, and activities that trigger your obsession with being thin. You may need to avoid looking at fashion or fitness magazines, spend less time with friends who constantly diet and talk about losing weight, and stay away from weight loss web sites and “pro-ana” sites that promote anorexia.
- Seek professional help. The advice and support of trained eating disorder professionals can help you regain your health, learn to eat normally again, and develop healthier attitudes about food and your body.
