Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that can turn a person’s life upside down. For a long time this self-destructive condition wasn’t talked about publicly, but as more women - especially young girls - are falling victim, creating public awareness is needed now more than ever. If you or someone you know suffers from anorexia, it helps to know more about this disturbing condition.

“ANA” has become the nickname for anorexia nervosa and for those who suffer from it, this term and everything that is associated with it usually leads to a path that no one should follow. Simply put, anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves a person’s misperception of body image. Often a person with ANA is extremely unhappy with the way their body looks and turns to self-destructive methods in order to lose weight and appear more attractive. These methods include going for long periods without food, losing excessive weight rapidly through diet or exercise, and using laxatives to get rid of food that has been consumed, among a number of other negative behaviors.

One factor about anorexia nervosa that is often forgotten is the emotional and mental side of this disease. An ANA victim is totally convinced that he/she is not good looking enough, not thin enough, and therefore, not socially acceptable. This is what typically triggers a negative string of behaviors, which can turn into anorexia. Often those with ANA strive to meet what they feel is an “ideal” weight, even though such goals are actually considered severely underweight. An obsession with appearance is also common. Many anorexics have a great fear that they will gain too much weight and won’t be accepted by others. This continues the cycle of the eating disorder.

Doctors and psychologists aren’t sure what causes anorexia but do believe that social and biological factors may play a part. This issue used to be contained within certain professions, such as modeling, but ANA has now come to include teenage girls and younger, as well as adult women and some men. People with anorexia nervosa do not believe they have a problem and often do not seek help on their own until it is too late. For those who do not seek medical attention, the symptoms and effects of ANA can lead to serious health conditions, as well as death. Common side effects that can result from anorexia include: erratic or skipped menstrual cycles in females, delayed body development during puberty, excessive body hair growth, depression, loss of interest in hobbies and socializing with friends and family. Many times ANA victims develop other eating disorders, such as bulimia.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from anorexia nervosa, be on the lookout for these early signs: over exercising in an attempt to lose weight, turning to various methods of weight loss such as laxatives, starvation and diet pills, excessive weight loss over a short period of time, depression related to weight or body image, obsessing over physical appearance and weight, and loss of the menstrual cycle.

The sooner a person with ANA is treated, the better the chances are of recovery. Many ANA victims relapse but for most, with time and medical assistance, this eating disorder can be beaten. The road to recovery is very hard for many anorexics and sometimes it can take months to years before a person with ANA can get back to their healthy weight. The best path to recovery from ANA is with plenty of love and support from family and friends.

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