Anorexia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder. The disorder is characterized by an obsession of mastery and control driven by certain fears about one’s body. An individual with anorexia will restrict eating often to a point of starvation in an attempt to gain control of their body. In time, the obsession will develop into an addiction similar to that of drugs or alcohol.

Anorexia nervosa is a psychological eating disorder. The disorder is characterized by an obsession of mastery and control driven by certain fears about one’s body. An individual with anorexia will restrict eating often to a point of starvation in an attempt to gain control of their body. In time, the obsession will develop into an addiction similar to that of drugs or alcohol.

While males can develop the disorder as well, an estimated 95% of those affected by anorexia are female. It can be found in children and adults but in most cases, anorexia begins to manifest itself during early adolescence. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports an estimated 0.5 to 3.7% of women will suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives.

A definite cause of anorexia nervosa has yet to be determined. However, experts continue to research within the medical and psychological fields to find possible causes.

Many experts feel that the desire to attain acceptable social or family status can be one of the underlying causes for anorexia.

Other researchers feel that there is a link between anorexia patients and a particular dysfunction within the family of the patient in which family members cannot achieve their identity as an individual because they’ve become so interdependent on each other. The result is that family members cannot function independently as healthy individuals and must rely on other members of the family for their identity. In children, especially girls, part of this dysfunction is often characterized by a fear of growing up. The young girl may develop a thought pattern that supports the idea that restrictive dieting may prevent their bodies from developing into that of a woman and therefore the parent-child dependency that the family has built will not be ruined.

Some studies also suggest that genes may play a role in the chances of a person developing anorexia. Studies are still being conducted in an effort to identify the particular gene or genes that might affect a person’s tendency to develop this disorder.

In recent years, experts and nutritionists are beginning to entertain the idea that there is a link between people with eating disorders and chemical imbalances similar to those found in people suffering from depression.

Some of the heath risks associated with Anorexia include:

• Under Weight
  
  
• Extreme Weakness
  
  
• Dizziness
  
  
• Ulcers
  
  
• Erosion of the Esophagus
  
  
• Low Pulse Rate
  
  
• Low Blood Pressure
  
  
• Electrolyte Imbalances
  
  
• Dehydration
  
  
• Muscle Spasms
  
  
• Potassium Deficiency (Hypokalemia)
  
  
• Thyroid Dysfunction
  
  
• Hormonal Problems
  
  

Some of the tell tale signs that a person may be anorexic are:

• Self-Starvation
  
  
• Extreme Weight Loss
  
  
• Obsessive Dieting
  
  
• Excessive Growth of Body or Facial Hair from Protein Deficiency
  
  
• Broken Blood Vessels in the Face
  
  
• Compulsive Exercise
  
  
• Hair Loss

An estimated 40% of people with Anorexia outgrow it. For the other 30% that experience a life-threatening situation from it or experience it for the rest of their lives, an alternative approach to treating the disorder includes:

High-potency Multivitamin (Take as directed on label) - Provides a base of vitamins and minerals for nutritional support.

Zinc (80 mg daily) plus Copper (3 mg daily) - Provides necessary enzymes needed to increase appetite and enhance taste.

Acidophilus (Take as directed on label) - Needed to replace the "friendly" bacteria lost from laxative abuse and excessive vomiting.

5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan (5-HTP) (Take as directed on label) - Aids in treating depression and nervousness.

Primrose Oil (Take as directed on label) - Important for all bodily functions and cell repair.

Vitamin B Complex (100 mg of each major B vitamin 3 times daily) - Helps prevent anemia. Also needed for proper brain function & increased appetite.

Free-Form Amino Acid Complex (Take as directed on label) - Supplies easily assimilable protein, needed for tissue repair.

Milk Thistle, Red Clover and Wild Yam help rebuild the liver and cleanse the bloodstream.

Ginger Root and Peppermint stimulate the appetite.

St. John's Wort - calms the nervous system and helps prevent depression