Anorexia ( Adapted from "Eating Disorders" by Jenny Bryan )

Anorexia is a serious illness that can kill or do permanent damage to the body. People with anorexia do no eat enough and are obsessed with being thin and losing weight. When they look in the mirror they do not see their body as it really is; they only see a fat person and want to be thinner.
Anorexia often starts as a diet. People stop eating foods which contain a lot of calories, such as sweets, biscuits and cakes, to lose weight. However people who develop anorexia continue to diet after they have reached a healthy weight.
As the condition gets worse, they eat less and less and eventually stop eating meals completely. We do not know exactly what causes anorexia. The precise reasons are probably different for each person but not eating is always a symptom of other problems.
Anorexia often starts in adolescence, a period of physical and emotional change, when people often feel unsure and insecure. However, males and females of all ages can become victims of the illness. For some people, anorexia is a way of dealing with other problems, feelings or emotions. Perhaps they are lonely or are unhappy at school or home. Losing weight can be a way of asking for help. The idea that 'thin is beautiful' also contributes to the problem. Images in advertising of super-thin models and actors can put pressure on both men and women to diet.
For people with anorexia it is difficult to accept that they have a problem and to ask for help. There is no shame in having an eating disorder and people should know that help is available. Recovery is a long process but it is easier if you are not alone.