Prevalence of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa occurs in 0.5-1% of the population, with a male for every nine women. It usually starts in adolescence, but it has already detected in children under ten years. Some anorexic behaviors performed excessive exercise, taking laxatives, self-induced vomiting and/or fast, all in order to lose (or gain) weight.
This disease is accompanied by a mood disorder with symptoms such as irritability, emotional weakness and feelings of worthlessness, disgust and sadness.They also produce organic changes such as loss of menstruation, poor nutrient absorption, bone problems due to the lack of calcium, including circulatory problems, the constant feeling cold, insomnia or morning fatigue causing intestinal problems for the absence of constant flow of food.
But undoubtedly the most serious problems is the distortion of reality and with it’s own body image and disturbed behavior as creating rituals around food, rejection of certain foods, lack of food variety, isolation excessive exercise, all in order to feel better.