In today's world there is a great deal of emphasis on looks. And that is why most young people suffer from anorexia. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that affects people by making them afraid to eat properly. People suffering from anorexia are unable to eat sufficiently since they are always dogged by the fear of gaining weight. You are probably aware that there are two types of anorexia. A person suffering from the restricting anorexia eats the basic minimum and often spends time working out to burn the extra calories consumed. A person suffering from the purging anorexia, on the other hand, eats food but later forces herself to vomit the food.
You can easily identify an anorexic person because she is usually gaunt and moody, unwilling to interact socially with people. Physically also it is easy to identify an anorexic - since her skin and hair look lifeless and nails are usually brittle. Anorexia affects the body in very drastic ways since an anorexic is basically starving herself. In a way, the body feeds off itself. The food we eat provides nutrients for the functioning of the various organs in the body. With no food to provide any nutrients, the brain, heart and lungs begin to seek nutrients from the hair, bones, muscles. As a result of eating very little, the metabolism is slowed down and this in turn reduces the amount of oxygen that is taken to the brain. The heart is in danger due to an electrolyte imbalance. In addition to this, shortness of breath is experienced by a person who is anorexic.
answered by M W