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Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia
is a serious life-threatening disorder characterized by deliberate
self-starvation leading to a loss of body weight which is inferior
to 85% of the minimum normal body weight for the person’s age
and height. An
intense fear of becoming obese as well as a distorted body image
are other characteristics. As
a result of this disorder, women’s menstrual periods cease (or
do not start if the individual is pre-pubertal).
Individuals
with anorexia are often thin to the point of emaciation, however
most individuals do not recognize how underweight they are.
They become obsessed with food, weight, counting calories,
vigorous exercise and tend to isolate themselves in order to
continue to engage in these self destructive behaviors.
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