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Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
Lifestyles: 1 2
3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
Writing: 1 2
3
Event: 1 2
3
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Grainne Donovan
Regina Mundi College, Cork
"Anorexia Nervosa , extreme body emaciation caused by emotional
or psychological aversion to foods and to eating. The condition occurs
predominantly in young women". (Britannica Encyclopaedia).
What are the symptoms of Anorexia?
Information on this subject to date indicates that early signs of one
or more of the following symptoms should give rise for concern:
o Fatigue and lack of energy
o Skin problems
o Dizziness and headaches
o Dehydration
o Stomach pains
o Amenorrhea (loss of menstruation)
o Insomnia
o Depression
Those suffering from this eating disorder may also:
o Make excuses to avoid family meal times in order to avoid eating .
o Wear baggy clothes firstly to conceal weight loss and secondly , they
may have a distorted view of their bodies which makes them feel they are
too fat for figure hugging clothes.
o Lose interest in the opposite sex as hormones only react when the body
reaches a certain weight.
Who is Anorexic?
In 1998 Bodywhys, an organisation for people with anorexia (self starvation)
and bulimia (binge eating and vomiting) estimated that there were at least
9,000 people, mostly women between the ages of 14 and 20 with such problems
in Ireland. Doctors and psychologists are also now preparing to treat
anorexia patients as young as 4 years of age.
Who is to blame for Anorexia?
Concern has been expressed by many that extremely thin supermodels, celebrities
and popstars encourage young people to develop eating disorders such as
anorexia nervosa by giving the example that the slim body image is necessary
for success .In an article in the "Irish Examiner" in March
of this year however Gerry Butcher, a psychotherapist in charge of the
Eating Disorder Recovery Programmme at St. John of God's Hospital stated
that: "Body image is still a huge issue, but it's not as simple as
that. The young people themselves would agree that the eating disorder
is essentially a means of coping when their whole environment is in chaos".
Other experts reiterate this by stating that anorexics are psychologically
vulnerable. They are caught up in a lonely world where denying the body
food is the only way he/she knows to keep things in control. The underlying
problems that give rise to anorexia can be bullying, abuse, marriage breakdown,
work or school related pressures, low self esteem, unrealistically high
expectations and coping with puberty.
Is there a cure?
There can be many difficulties in dealing with eating disorders. Young
adolescents may not be able or willing to articulate what's going on in
their lives and parents may not understand the illness and become frustrated.
However, modern treatment programmes are mainly successful. "Generally,
if we see someone within 18 months to 2 years of the disorder starting
the recovery rate is around 90%. It decreases by about 10% for every year
after that but that does not rule out recovery even after prolonged periods",
said Gerry Butcher of St. John of God's hospital. "What's heartening
too is that I have never yet met a recovered anorexic who is sorry they
are recovered. They are always glad to be out of the grip of the disorder".
Information and support is available to people with eating disorders
and to their families and friends from Bodywhys at (01) 2835126.
Is there an ideal weight?
According to Professor Ian Mc Donald (a specialist in obesity) there is
no such thing as one shape or size for everyone and claims that for some
women being thin maybe an ideal shape. "It's about finding a weight
range at which you look and feel healthy. If you eat well and exercise
you will achieve a weight which is optimum for you, even if it is less
or more than the so called 'ideal'. What is important is that we look
at the health of the individual. If somebody is an active person who eats
and exercises regularly then there is no real cause to worry. They may
be a dress size smaller or larger than the next person but this should
be viewed as a quirk of the individual and not an abnormal health deviation".
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