The cure

Anorexia is not the end. People can be treated for severe anorexia and have a normal life again; they just need to seek help. The trouble with helping people is that many are in denial about having anorexia or an eating disorder. In order to restore order to the body, one must make a goal to gain 1 to 3 pounds per week by increasing social activity, reducing physical activity, and using schedules for eating. the goals may sound easy to a healthy person but these goals are often "unrealistic" to people with eating disorders.

Not the only one.

There are many types of eating disorders besides anorexia. Some are more harmful than others but they all cause serious damage to the mind and body. Other eating disorders include bulimia nervosa, binge eating, anorexia athletica, over exercise, over eating, night eating, orthorexia, and EDNOS. Bulimia nervosa is when someone eats a large amount of food in a small frame of time. Binge eating is when someone goes through periods of eating until they are uncomfortably full. Anorexia athletica is when someone isn't enjoying exercise, but does it anyway. Over exercise is when someone's life is scheduled around exercising. Over eating is the obsessive consumption of food. Night eating is when someone doesn't eat during the day, but consumes a large amount of food at night. Orthorexia is the fixation of eating proper food. EDNOS or eating disorders not otherwise specified is when someone is stuggling with eating disorder thoughts or actions but does not have the symptoms of bulimia or anorexia.

There are other ways...

Many people who suffer with an eating disorder believe starving themselves is the only way to shed the pounds effectively which is untrue. Something simple like eating healthier or running a mile a day can help with theiir weight. Plenty of exercise can help tremendously and will make people look better than starving themselves. They will be slim and toned without the unhealthy look anorexia and other eating disorders give people. Many people believe losing weight is a dreadfully long task which will not pay off until months later. Losing weight can be very easy as long as someone puts their mind to it and tries to change their bad habits!

A Friend in Need

Many teens have friends that have an eating disorder but don't know what to do. The thought of hurting their friend's feelings is too much to bear sometimes so teens often don't say anything to them at all. Also, teens do not know their friend has an eating disorder. Some signs that someone may have an eating disorder are needing to exercise constantly, avoiding eating with friends and others, talking about their weight and food, always going to the bathroom especially after meals, or becoming defensive or sensitive when talking about his or her weight loss or eating habits. In order to help a friend in need one must be supportive and listen to what their friend has to say instead of ignoring the issue or degrading them. Also, one must focus on the inner qualites that makes the friend unique or special such as a nice personality or beautiful eyes. Lastly, do not try to fix the problem, the friend may need to see a support group or therapist to cure their eating disorder but they need assurance that nothing is wrong or embarrassing about having help. Please do not ignore a problem a friend may have because you may just save their life!

There is hope!

Young girls and teens who suffer from anorexia believe their situation is hopeless.  There is hope.  There is Project HEAL.  Project HEAL was co-founded in 2008 by two teenage girls who met while they were being treated for anorexia.  Many insurance companies do not cover treatment for eating disorders.  The teens saw the need and founded Project HEAL to help those who could not afford treatment.  The scary trend with anorexia is that the average age for the start of this disease is now ages 9-12.  The co-founders of Project HEAL, Liana and Kristina, were 12 and 10 years old, respectively, when they were diagnosed.  Liana and Kristina are now college students and they serve as mentors and role models for young girls and teens who are suffering with anorexia.  You can visit their website at http://theprojectheal.org/.

“We want to diminish society’s obsession with body image by encouraging girls (and all people!) to accept their bodies. People do not have to love everything about their bodies, but it is important that they learn to embrace their perceived flaws and ‘imperfections.’ We hope that by providing encouragement and support we can help those struggling with body image issues from developing full-blown eating disorders.” ~ Kristina and Liana

Models:From Runways to Scales

The pressure to be thin is felt strongly in the model agencies. The top model agencies are pressuring their models to lose weight fast or they will be fired. The only choice these girls have to succeed in this type of business is to starve themselves. This is unfair to the models because they should have the freedom to express themselves with their own body and not be forced to look like every other model on the runway. http://www.anorexicmodel.com/

Women Aren't the Only Ones.

Many believe anorexia is only common among women when many men today are stuggling with this disease. Men are just too embarrassed to come out and tell people about their disease. Track stars, wrestlers, and jockeys are at a high risk of becoming anorexic because their sports require them to have a lower weight to be the best and most competative. Also, homosexuals are at a risk of becoming anorexic because homosexual men care more about their appearance. Anorexia  effects everyone and should not be ignored!


http://www.something-fishy.org/cultural/issuesformen.php