Anorexia Nervosa
by Michelle 96540451

Since I have been interested in this type of area for years, I’d like to focus my final report on this issue, and express a more general idea about what exactly is anorexia nervosa to everyone, and I hope everyone can take this seriously, and live healthy!!


People are concerned with the high percentage of overeating, obesity, found in young people, while “under-eating”, or Anorexia Nervosa, is rather neglected in today’s society. The problem of under-eating is just as serious of a problem as that of overeating and the public must be made aware of the issue. Anorexia Nervosa, characterized as both a disease and a disorder, involves food restriction and weight loss.



The media should put a hold to posting pictures of overly-skinny models and stars, because these pictures have big influences on those who are easily manipulated by others. The social life and certain gene inheritance are other factors that promote anorexia.

Unlike before, Anorexia is taken more seriously and unfortunately experienced by more people. Due to anxiety, stress, peer pressure, and self-esteem problems, it is generally female students who are found with the disorder. In current society, cultural ideas can greatly impact a person and lower her/his self-esteem, developing a distorted body image, “an individual’s internal picture of her exterior form”, as a result.



Insecure teens tend to have the distorted body image of skinny is beauty; their insecurity makes them highly aware of how people look at them. Perfectionists, like kids who are pressured by parents to get straight A’s, desire to have perfect bodies and are at the highest risk of suffering anorexia. Fashion trends in Hollywood promote skinnier bodies and now most people prefer to look at underweight bodies; that is why there is an increasing demand in anorexic models on runways.



Our body is switched to starvation mode when it does not consume enough energy to function normally. Starvation mode slows down processes in the body to conserve energy and turns to itself for essential nutrients.

Fortunately, there are signs that help to determine whether one has anorexia or not. Weight loss is an obvious outcome of self starvation. This weight loss can lead to depression and social withdrawal; the individual gets irritable and easily upset, creating an obstacle when interacting with others. It becomes harder for her/him to get a good night’s sleep, leading to fatigue in daytime and reduced concentration and attention span.



A growing adolescent conducting self starvation impacts her/his future health life. Not getting sufficient nutrient while growing “can increase the risk of bone deformities or limit eventual adult height.” Malnutrition leads to weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and increased anxiety level. This anxiety causes her to feel that she is not in control of her body, thus leading to even stricter restrictions on her diet. When a girl’s body fat drops below a certain level, she will not menstruate and puberty will not develop normally.

Our society is moving at a rapid pace; views on things that were valid just last month may no longer be applicable a few weeks later. The media is gradually having a lot more influence on young teens than before. Stars, celebrities, and models always seem to look prettier and more attractive than the average people. They look this way because this is a job requirement. And many young people tend to believe this façade while most adults are immune to it because the adults know what is really going on behind the façade. Unfortunately, young people are easily manipulated and therefore will follow examples of their star role models; for example, losing weight, through unhealthy practices.



Pretty sad huh?! but I still see tons of people nowadays been losing weight and starving themselves in an excess way, I hope everyone can understand the truth behind all the façade and not be manipulated by the media that easily.



Be who you are! And stay healthy! And that, of course, is what beauty really is!!



96540451
Michelle