A girl comes home from school on a Friday night. Instead of going out with her friends she goes on a date, a date with her treadmill. The girl gets on her treadmill and runs until she thinks her legs will fall off, then she runs a little more. She can not let herself stop running until the apple she ate for lunch is completely burnt off. This girl hates herself for eating so much for lunch, she can feel the apple's calories sitting on her body, she can not let herself stop running until the calories vanish. When done with her daily workout, she downs a bottle of water, takes a shower, and heads off to bed knowing full well that she is going to workout again tomorrow. To the average person this girl may seem to be training for a race, but she …show more content…
Anorexia can be treated, but only if the victim is willing to reach out for help. Most people who have anorexia will not reach out for help because they do not see their weight loss as a bad thing. A lot of people diagnosed with anorexia have no desire to get better, which often makes treatment impossible. The patients that do reach out for help have a high rate of recovery. Once a victim admits that they need help treatment becomes a lot easier. The first step in recovery is consulting a doctor. When a victim of anorexia tells their doctor they are suffering from anorexia “he or she will typically run several tests and exams to help pinpoint a diagnosis, rule out medical causes for the weight loss, and check for any related complications” ( Mayo clinic 6).“The first priority in anorexia nervosa treatment is addressing and stabilizing any serious health issues (Health guide 1). If a patient is not stabilized from all the health issues anorexia causes, they are more likely to have lasting side effects or even become deceased . Another important step in the treatment of anorexia is contacting a dietitian to “teach you about healthy eating and proper nutrition. The nutritionist will also help [the victim] develop and follow meal plans that include enough calories to reach or maintain a normal, healthy weight” (Heath guide 4). Another necessary component of anorexia …show more content…
“In anorexia nervosa’s cycle of self-starvation, the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. Thus, the body is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy” (NEDA 1). Because anorexia is not “really about food...[it is about] trying to cope with emotional problems” (Mayo Clinic), the long-term effects are both physical and mental. Some of the physical long-term impacts anorexia can have on a patient are anemia, bone loss, absence of period, kidney problems, gastrointestinal problems, and heart problems (Mayo Clinic 4). In addition to physical problems a victim faces many mental difficulties such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance or alcohol misuse (Mayo Clinic 4). Due to the severity of the long term effects of anorexia, the mortality rate of the disease is one of the highest out of all mental illnesses. “A review of nearly fifty years of research confirms that anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder” (NEDA 1). Most long term effects can be cured over time, but some can not. For example a victim of the illness could more easily cure a patients yellowing skin than a heart condition or depression. Though some long term effects may be hard to cope with at first, it is possible for someone who was affected by the disease to live a long fulfilling