Eating Disorders

Perhaps no psychological disorders are more unique than period of adolescence than the eating disorders that afflict adolescent girls and young women. Both anorexia nervosa and bulimia have become more common in recent years. And both are serious—indeed, potentially fatal – conditions that are difficult to cure.

Anorexia nervosa, which literally means nervosa loss of appetite, has been defined as a refusal to maintain a weight that is at least 85% of the expected weight for one’s height and age.

Anorexic individual are also characterized by a strong fear of becoming overweight; a distorted body image (a tendency to view themselves as fat even when they are emaciated); and, if they are females, and absence of regular menstrual cycles. Up to one 1% of adolescent girls suffer from this condition, and 95 out of 100 of its victims are females.

Bulimia nervosa, the so-called binge/purge syndrome, is also rooted in a strong “fear of fat”; it’s victim believe they are far fatter than they are and want to be far thinner. Bulimia is more prevalent than anorexia, affecting up to about 5% of high school and college male.
Eating Disorders