Are These Symptoms Serious

Canandaigua Medical Group Anorexia Nervosa Kipling Goh, MD June, 2004 What is anorexia nervosa? Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually affects teenage girls. Teenage boys, grown up women and men can get it also. People with anorexia think about being thin a lot of the time. They try to lose a lot of weight and they are very worried about gaining weight. They think they are fat even though they are not. It is a psychiatric disorder in which food and weight are used to deal with emotional problems. What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia? People with anorexia keep themselves underweight. They starve themselves by not eating enough food. They don’t eat high calorie foods and they may exercise too much. People with bulimia often eat huge amounts of food at one time and then make themselves throw-up soon after eating. They also may take laxatives or water pills in order to keep them from gaining weight. People with bulimia usually do not lose as much weight as people with anorexia. Why do people get anorexia? No one knows why some people get anorexia. People with this problem may think that they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. It usually is a manifestation of a psychiatric disorder. They usually want everything in their lives to be just perfect. They think having a thin body is one way to be perfect. People who have anorexia usually are good students, may be involved in school and community activities. ...