Presentation+Topics


 * Prevalence** (Mary) - The lifetime prevalence rate for females is 0.5%. Males have 0.05%. Symptoms of Anorexia usually become noticeable between the ages of 14-18, and rarely begins after 40. It's hard to gauge the exact number because some anorexic patients become bulimic, and vice versa. Long term mortality rate is over 10%, which is caused in most cases by starvation, suicide, and electrolyte imbalance (DSM)

There are nearly 600 hundred books (583 from just typing in "anorexia" in the search box, to be exact) on anorexia (both fiction and nonfiction) between UIUC and the local public libraries, so it is impossible to talk about them all, so //The Art of Starvation:A Story of Anorexia and Survival// by Shelia MacLeod, goes through the author's life, how she developed and recovered from anorexia.
 * Examples include characters in books, movies, television etc.** (Mary) - One of the more popular movies about anorexia is //The Best Little Girl in the World,// based on a book by Steven Levenkron. It's about a girl who becomes anorexic to be a great ballerina after a teacher tells her she could be great if she was to drop a few pounds. She was hospitalized a few times, and gets in a lot of trouble along the way (even arrested for stealing diet pills), but eventually makes a recovery.


 * References in APA format: at least 3** (Mary) - See Reference page.


 * Suspected or known cause** (Kathryn) - Most Anorexics start their 'dieting' when someone mentions something about their weight. Anorexics then become very concerned about what they eat and how much they weigh. This eventually leads to drastic measures being taken to become thin. Although this is not what happens in all cases, almost all anorexia patients became anorexic after someone mentioned their weight in a negative way. Other influences that can lead to someone becoming anorexic are either a traumatic life event occurring, or the want for attention (Harmon, 1999).

**Treatment options based on the 3 models of health** (Kathryn) - Holistic ideas - Psychiatrists and therapists also help anorexics recover. An anorexic usualy becomes anorexic because of social problems either in the family, or their other social lives. While the medicine and food may help an anorexic get better, a anorexic person could continue being anorexic after treatment stops. This happens because of their mental problems and social problems. Psychiatrists and therapists help the anorexic to work out and solve some of their social and mental problems. This then helps the anorexic toward a full recovery, where they will never go back to anorexia as a way out of tough situations (Harmon, 1999). Medical ideas - When a person is found to be anorexic, they are usually taken straight to the hospital. Here they are given food and medication and monitored until deemed fit to leave. The doctor carefully watches the patient's weight to make sure that the patient is continuing to gain weight and become healthy. The medicine does not help with gaining weight, but is mostly there to help with the side effects of anorexia. For example, an anorexic patient would probably take an antidepressant while recovering because depression is a side effect of being anorexic. Doctors mainly focus on the weight of the patient and making sure that the body is gradually recovering and gaining weight after being anorexic (Harmon,1999). Environmental ideas - Psychiatrists and therapists can also help the anorexic's environment to get better, and help the anorexic feel more safe in their environment. Family counseling would be an example of this (Harmon, 1999).

**Stigmas attached : think of how it is percieved in the media or withing society** (Kathryn) - Everyone today is concerned about their weight. Dieting is seen as a natural part of of the American life because people think that being thin is beautiful. If someone is overweight, then those who aren't overweight look down on them as lower, or stupider than skinnier people. People who are overly concerned about their weight to an unhealthy extreme are considered to have a eating disorder like anorexia (Erlanger, 1985). TV can play a big role in our culture, and it has a big influence over the way people think. One way anorexia can start is when a woman tries to look like the models and actors on the Television. Many times, actors and models themselves have an eating disorder so that they can look 'beautiful' on the TV. The media portrays being thin as the ideal, beautiful figure. This influences how people think about weight (Edlin, 2010).


 * Environmental, social, genetic factors which influence condition** (Brigitte) -


 * GENETIC- There is no **definite** genetic factor that we know causes anorexia, but researchers believe that a gene located on chromosome 1p is involved in determining a person's chances of getting anorexia.
 * ENVIRONMENTAL/SOCIAL- Fitting in with the current look often affects anorexia. When Twiggy became popular and brought the "waif" look, the model industry introduced thinner frail models, which made people more desperate to fit into the current definition of beauty. Also, depending on surrounding people's reactions to the person's anorexia, they could feel empowered because people will do whatever they say to get them to eat. This also makes them feel special, they think of their thinness as a "special" thinness.


 * At least 3 symptoms** (Brigitte) - Symptoms include depression, social with-drawl, fatigue, food obsession, heart and gastrointestinal complications, low kidney function, flaky skin, brittle nails, tooth loss. (Dryden-Edwards, MedicineNet) weight loss, lowered body temperature, lowered blood pressure, slower heart rate, loss of mensches, thinning hair, malnutrition (Anatomy of Anorexia)

Family's, friends' and peers':
 * How does this diognosis affect others besides the individual diagnosed** (Brigitte) -
 * frustration, worry, anxiety, alarm, fear, disbelief, guilt
 * eventual acceptance of the anorexia, jealousy of the patients special thinness.

Effects on family life:
 * conversations revolve around food and exercise
 * family members eat more and gain weight trying to coax the patient to eat more.

Typical Family Reaction:
 * MOTHER- usually immobilized, guilty, frightened, and later angry at the patient, gains the most weight as a result of the anorexic
 * FATHER- typically confused, resentful, mystified, sorry for himself, worried for his child.
 * PATIENT- enraged, defensive of their anorexia when confronted, independent, secretly ashamed of themselves, powerful (family life revolves around what the anorexic says)
 * SIBLINGS- disappointed with their anorexic sibling, afraid parents will give more attention and time to the patient, abusive to patient, jealous, go out of the way to prove that //they// are the best child.