Dealing with anorexia nervosa among teenagers

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder seen mostly in young women. It is more common in the affluent sections of the society. In this the individual starts reducing her weight to the extent of becoming sick.The perception that being slim is beautiful started from the west and has spread world over. A pencil thin figure became a trend. Teenagers being more susceptible to this kind of fads want to copy the trend without understanding its implications or hazards. Teenage and young women are more prone to develop this disorder, but rarely men can also be affected.Earliest symptom of anorexia nervosa is for a healthy young lady with normal weight to start getting anxious about her body weight. She starts reducing the quantity of food consumed and entirely avoids foods with high calories. With this, if she does not see the desired results (a loss of body weight or a pencil thin figure), she starts skipping meals altogether. In extreme cases, the individual induces vomiting after taking any food. In addition to avoiding food, these women take to vigorous exercises in a belief to reduce excess body weight. Because of this unhealthy obsession with losing weight, they start developing many health hazards. First off all, they start losing fat deposits in the body, which they perceive as obtaining a very good figure and looking more beautiful. But what happens is totally opposite. Along with fat, they also lose the glow and attraction of the face as it is the fat deposits below cheek which give radiance to any face. Their figure is also spoilt. Because shape of breasts and hips of women is due to fat deposited there. Loss of this fat leads to flattening of these curves. These young women are deprived of essential nutrients supplied by food and start suffering from signs of protein, calorie malnutrition and multiple deficiencies like that of iron, calcium, e.t.c. Instead of looking beautiful, they start looking miserable and sick. Lack of essential calories results in loss of energy and necessary physical stamina for work. At the age when nature provides maximum energy, these individuals get tired very easily and are unable to do hard work of any kind. Chronic self imposed hunger and resultant fatigue and malnutrition leads to a state of depression. Thus the affected person becomes irritable and often cries over trivial matters. Lack of sleep, apathy towards work and people, are other signs of depression which can be seen in them. Their overall performance in school, university or work place is also affected by this obsession to remain slim, which adds on the depression. But interesting part is they do not acknowledge that they are sick and say that they feel fine and fresh. Excess loss of fat also affects the hormonal system of the body as feminizing hormones are fat dependant. Result is menstrual disorders and even sterility in women of marriageable age. This condition also affects the immune system of these women, making them more vulnerable to infections.To prevent anorexia nervosa, girls of growing age should be counseled very well about the importance of good balanced diets for their present and future lives. They should be taught how to lead a balanced life, i.e. to maintain normal body weight by good amount of physical exercise along with a healthy diet.Family members of teenage girls should be aware of this condition. If their teenage daughter is avoiding food and talking about remaining slim, it should alert them about possibility of anorexia nervosa.Nutritional supplements are given to affected persons as long as they suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Severely malnourished young women have to be hospitalized and given nutritional supplements by means of injections and perfusions. Once a teenager recovers from anorexia nervosa, family members should be vigilant to prevent any relapse.