Beyond Physical Appearances: A Guide to Anorexia

Anorexia is a serious disorder that affects more than 8 million Americans. This translates to one victim for every two hundred people. Around 90% of the people who suffer are women. There was a time when it was thought that this disease only affected upper class women. Today, it is a widely accepted principle that this is a disease that is not biased towards social class and race.

There are two distinct types of anorexia: one that involves binge eating and then forcing the food out and the other that does not.

Cases of the disease can mean that the victim refuses to gain weight because of self-esteem. This disease causes serious impacts on a person's mental health and relationships.

• Anorexia Nervosa Defined – this site provides a clear definition of what the disease is about.
• Impulse Eating – in this site, binge-eating is defined and differentiated from other eating disorders.

The disease is caused by multiple factors but there is no known exact cause. Studies show that there are several conditions that increase the risk of a person towards the disorder. First, many of these people are overachievers. In some cases, some people who start dieting begin to travel towards this path. Today, what people see on the internet and on TV as the standard of beauty can also affect how a person can develop the disease. Some researcher say that this could be hereditary and some say that this is caused by social and influences. Stress is also considered as a leading cause.

• Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa – this site provides a detailed guide how to spot the warning signs of the disease.
• Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa – this site provides possible treatment for the disorder.

This disorder cannot be cured without professional help. Some people can respond in a good way but many victims require psychotherapy. Many researchers have observed that the involvement of the family works best for the treatment. The most common treatment is the improvement of a person's self-esteem because this is what usually causes the problem.

• Overview of Treatment – this article shows key points on the treatment and diagnosis of the disorder.
• Frequently Asked Questions – this site can shed light on the most common questions asked about eating disorders.
• Types of Eating Disorders – in this site, readers will be exposed to the different kinds of eating disorders that affect people.
• Effectiveness of Family Treatment – this article elaborates why family treatment is more effective than individual treatment.
• Anorexia and Self-Esteem – this medical journal explains if self-esteem really has an effect on whether a person might develop this disorder or not.

One observation is that athletes are more common to develop this than those who are not. A high percentage of athletes who participate in sports that require slim bodies suffer from the disorder.

• Eating Disorders in Athletes – this article explains the risk factor among athletes.
• Female Athletes at Risk – this article explains why female athletes have high risk factors in developing the disease.
• Sports and Eating Disorders – this is a medical journal showing the relationship between sports and the disorder.

Males are not immune to this disorder. Studies reveal that one in six individuals who have poor self-esteem in relationship to their bodies is a male. It is unknown how prevalent this is to males because of gender stereotyping.

• Anorexia in Men – this article elaborates on the prevalence of the disease among boys and grown men.
• Facts About Male Anorexia Nervosa – this scholarly article provides a simple overview about the disorder in males.
• Boy and Anorexia Nervosa – this medical journal provides straightforward statistics about the disorder occurring in pubescent boys.
• Male Anorexia and Findings – here are some key statistics and their source studies about male anorexia.

There are other eating disorders and they should not be confused with anorexia. Some people eat only certain foods. Some abstain from specific kinds of foods. Others binge-eat while some are obsessed with specific kinds of foods.

• Binge Eating – this provide a guide on the definition of binge-eating.
• Orthorexia Nervosa – this article introduces the reader to this eating disorder.
• Rumination Syndrome – this disorder happens mostly to children.
• Bulimia Nervosa – here you can get a clearer picture of what this disorder is about.

These are some resources that can help you learn more about eating disorders.

• National Eating Disorder Collaboration – this is a large group that specializes in eating disorders.
• Signs of Eating Disorder – this article provides an overview of the symptoms of eating problems.
• Treatment of Eating Disorder – this site provides steps on how one can begin the journey to recovery.
• How Friend and Family Can Help – this is a good guide of you want to be involved in someone's recovery.