Anorexia Nervosa : Myths and Realities

by September 10th, 2008. Filed under: predisposition to anxiety disorders.

Sorting fact from fiction….The truth about Anorexia.

Myth - Anorexia is a Lifestyle Choice
Reality - Emulating the behaviours of someone with Anorexia is not the same as having the disease.

Myth - Anorexia is just a Fad Diet
Reality - Anorexia Nervosa is a recognised Psychiatric Illness

Myth - Anorexia is caused by the media and fashion industry.
Reality - The Media and Fashion may be contributing factors but contributing factors are not the same as causal links. Research, although not yet definitive, has shown that Anorexia Nervosa is most likely a Neurobiological illness which also has a probable Genetic link as well. In patients with Anorexia Nervosa there appears to be an excess of the seretonin receptor 5HT1A, which is associated with anxiety, mood disturbances and impulse control and a decreased level of seretonin receptor 5HT which is associated with the regulation of mood and appetite. It is theorised that starvation acts as a form of self medication to try and balance out these irregularities in brain chemistry. Other research has identified a possible causal link between increased levels of the nuerorecptor Dopamine & associated obsessive compulsive behaviour and the identification of a Gene which is believed to predispose someone to Anorexia Nervosa.

Myth - Only women suffer from Anorexia
Reality - 1 in 10 sufferers is male

Myth - Anorexia only effects those in their teens or early 20’s
Reality - Children as young as seven and women as old as 70 have been diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa.

Myth - Anorexia Nervosa is a “white disease”
Reality - Anyone of any Race or Background can suffer from Anorexia.

Myth - Anorexia is a modern day phenomenon.
Reality - Anorexia Nervosa was first officially described in Medical Literature by Richard Morton in 1684. It was officially named “Anorexia Nervosa” by Sir Willian Gull in 1874. There are unofficial case histories dating back to Ancient Greek and Roman Times.

Myth - Anorexia will make me Beautiful.
Reality - The physical effects of Anorexia Nervosa include…hair loss, dry scaly skin, excessive hair growth on the body and/or face (Lanugo), poor circulation resulting in blueish extremeties and severe dental damage.

Myth - Anorexia is healthier than being Obese
Reality - Health risks of Anorexia include, Osteoporis, Muscle Atrophy, Seizures, Digestive Difficulties, Liver Failure, Kidney Failuire, Malnutrition, Anaemia, Low Blood Pressure, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Lowered Immune Response and Death, commonly from…Suicide, Heart Failure or Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Stomach Rupture.

Myth - Anorexia Nervosa is not a serious illness.
Reality - Thousands of people worldwide every year die from Anorexia Nervosa

Including…

Amy Leanne Gretner

Died September 2004
Aged 15

Catherine Dunbar

Died January 1984
Aged 22

Samantha and Michaela Kendall

Died October 1997 & April 1994 respectively
Aged 25 and 22

Rudine Howard

Died 1994
Aged 32

Luisel Ramos

Died August 2006
Age 22

Michael Krasnow

Died October 1997
Aged 26

Ana Carolina Reston

Died November 2005
Aged 21

Karen Anne Carpenter

Died February 1983
Aged 32

ANOREXIA RUINS YOUR BODY, YOUR HEALTH & YOUR LIFE
DON”T BECOME ANOTHER STATISTIC.

HELP IS AVAILABLE

For more information visit

www.anred.com
www.anad.org
www.something-fishy.org
www.thebutterflyfoundation.com.au

or speak to your Family Doctor

Anorexia is a Disease not a Lifestyle. Help Support those with Anorexia Nervosa, EDucate yourself about Anorexia.

Please Rate and Comment, thank you.

Anorexia, Anorexia Nervosa, Starvation, Diet, Exercise, Lifestyle, Pro Ana, Pro ED, Ana, Thin, Thinspo, Thinspiration, Eating Disorder, Nicole Richie, Skinny, Models, Fashion, Beauty, Karen Carpenter, Illness, Health, Damage, Death, Psychiatric, Neurobiological, Genetic

Duration : 0:6:51


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25 Responses to Anorexia Nervosa : Myths and Realities

  1. chimmaj245

    Lets Play all Day …
    Lets Play all Day Sweetie

    fastloverfun (dot) com

  2. Catlover123445

    will you do a video …
    will you do a video like this on body dysmorphic disorder?

  3. ToombaHeart

    WAS THIS A JOKE? …
    WAS THIS A JOKE? the model death scene was from Americas next top model….THIS IS A JOKE and the music is insanely crappy

  4. puffojej

    couldn’t watch the …
    couldn’t watch the video properly yet so what I say might be useless-just would like people to realize that ED DOESN’T EQUAL EMACIATION. I’ve been suffering for about 4 years now (ednos) -I’m struggling, even though I do eat, and weigh 105lbs, being 5′2″ so my BMI etc. it ok. it doesn’t mean I don’t get to feel constantly weak, my joints crack when I move, my menstrual cycle is messed up and more, not to mention emotional struggle.

    PLEASE don’t associate eating disorders with extreme thinnes.

  5. beviboop

    i’m currently …
    i’m currently suffering with an eating disorder… it’s a battle everyday…

    if anyone wants to chat then i’m here :)

  6. DarkAngelNCharmed

    its very hard to …
    its very hard to stop without friends and family. even with them its hard. sometimes people dont relize how bad it truly is. some may not say they need help but inside they are screaming for help. just keep trying to talk to them or maybe talk to their parents or someone to get them help. im pretty sure they dont mean to hurt your feelings.

  7. hermione12

    thats what im doin …
    thats what im doin but its really really hard once they started lyin 2 me tellin me that they were goin somewhere and that i couldnt go cuz i had somethin else i had to do but it got cancelled so instead of just askin to go i like followed them they were buying laxatives and that crap

  8. DarkAngelNCharmed

    i have had the same …
    i have had the same thing happen to me. its tough watching friends go through it. just be there for them and try to get them help even if they say they dont want it. you may just save their life.

  9. MalfoyFemDom

    Lol, right on.:)
    Lol, right on.:)

  10. hermione12

    That is really sad …
    That is really sad 2 hear. But I kno ppl who r suffering frm it and they r really close 2 me and they just keep telling me how good it is 2 be skinny, and how they look great but they are just skin and bones, and its like seriously getting to me, and they tell me it just a diet and they r gona stop soon but i know its not tru especially wen they’ve been on it for MONTHS!

  11. CindyLooLovesYou

    Very Well Done!
    Very Well Done!

  12. Emerald72

    Emulating the …
    Emulating the behaviours of someone with Anorexia Nervosa in order to lose a set amount of weight for aesthetic reasons is called being on a crash or fad diet, NOT necessarily having the actual recognised Psychiatric Illness known as Anorexia Nervosa.

  13. Emerald72

    Anorexia is a life …
    Anorexia is a life style choice…and Denial (sic) is not just a river in egypt ;)

  14. hermione12

    omg this is boring! …
    omg this is boring! plus anorexia is a life style choice!

  15. knoxtaurigen

    At those times …
    At those times where Morton described the desease,Anorexia Nervosa would happen for other reasons, such as poverty, I mean, not right nutrition .
    There’s a big difference between “desorder” and “desease” .
    All symptoms described in this video also fits the symptoms of depression, bipolar, some schizophreny cases and many others .
    Anorexia starts as a not adjusted food behavior, but then later ur body gets sick, and then we can say it becomes “desease” .

  16. ersion82

    wow, they would …
    wow, they would rather die than have a bit of body fat, seriously!

  17. Ramzyo554

    I know you wanna …
    I know you wanna see my tits

    dateherwow…dot…com

  18. clownoneo230

    Come hear my …
    Come hear my invigorating moans live!!!

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  19. MalfoyFemDom

    Yulunga by Dead Can …
    Yulunga by Dead Can Dance. I love it myself.:)

  20. xxxberty2008

    eatind disorders …
    eatind disorders ARE NOT A DIET, well said :)

  21. superchick017

    Well, this is all …
    Well, this is all true, but it does not get that bad unless you loose control, i know people who have sufford from anorexia and they look good now, she weighs 97 pounds:).

  22. glasscigarettex

    I suffer from EDNOS …
    I suffer from EDNOS, not specifically ana but with strong ana tendencies. Thank you for a well-reasoned and intelligent response to this issue. I was shocked to learn that anorexia is not a modern disease, particularly because heavier women used to be considered an ideal of beauty. It just goes to show that for people suffering with genuine eating disorders, it’s not all about beauty, but about control.

  23. yyanyying

    Good video, really …
    Good video, really makes aware the health risks Anorexia causes.

  24. mi92ry

    what is the title …
    what is the title of this song?

  25. minny82

    thank you. i …
    thank you. i appriciate how you show the reality and truth of this disease. i hate how society sort of “picks on” eating disorders. as if they were a choice or not a real disease. i feel really bad for anyone who has suffered with this disease. to me, it is no differnt than cancer. a life threatening disease. not a joke.

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