About Anorexia Nervosa

Essay by meangirlHigh School, 10th gradeA, May 2004

download word file, 7 pages 4.2 3 reviews

In the year 2003 walking through high schools, is like walking through a miniature Hollywood. Clothes are becoming shorter and tighter. Girls are becoming thinner and thinner. These changes are leading to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Although there are not any identifiable physical causes of anorexia nervosa, there are several psychological factors that contribute to this condition. Anorexia Nervosa is promoted through cultural expectations, the media, and social influences.

Now imagine you're a young adolescent in South Africa. Starvation is a daily part of your life. When you get a full meal you are joyful. Even when you get a piece of bread, to you that would be your meal for the day. You try to make what little food you have last. Your stomach aches constantly. You are so frail and thin that you look as if you are a walking corpse. When you walk by a mirror and see your reflection, you can only wish that you were a healthy young adolescent.

On the other hand, imagine you are an adolescent that is on the Honor Roll and involved in sports such as cross country or gymnastics. You are also involved in social clubs such as Key Club and S.A.D.D. You belong to an average middle class family, living in an average suburban area. Being skinny means having absolutely no fat. You look at yourself as being obese, and want to lose as much weight as possible. You start off with a simple diet. You cut some of the fattier foods. You cut back some more. You continue to do this without even realizing, you are eating basically nothing. You see fat in everything: carrots, celery, even lettuce.

You look at yourself in the mirror and still aren't satisfied with the great amount of...