ANEREXIA NERVOSAAnorexia Nervosa is the most fatal of all psychiatric illnesses. It
is characterised by low body weight and body image distortion. The person suffering has an obsessive fear of gaining weight, therefore is very conscious of what he/she eats and is usually exercising constantly. Anorexia Nervosa can be developed at any age or stage in life for both males and females, but it usually developed during adolescence. Extreme food restriction can lead to starvation, malnutrition and a dangerously low body weight this can result in major health problems, and in some cases death. |
BULIMIABulimia nervosa is a severe mental illness
which is characterised by persistent binge-eating, which is followed by feelings of guilt and loss of control. This leads the person to compensatory behaviours such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, over exercising and/or the misuse of laxatives, enemas or diuretics. Just like anorexia, bulimia often begins by striving for the ‘pursuit of thinness’. Weight loss and dieting are undertaken, but because of the lack of food and nutrition, a starvation reaction occurs and an uncontrollable urge to eat overcomes the sufferer. Once the person gives into this urge, the need for food is overwhelming and the person may binge on whatever food is available, the binge is then followed by compensatory behaviours. This becomes a constant cycle, which overtime may become more strict, compulsive and uncontrollable. Bulimia is often gone unnoticed, because the person suffering usually maintains an average weight. Most people including health professionals assume that a person must be underweight and thin if they have an eating disorder. |