ANOREXIA
DESCRIPTION |
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Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder
characterised by extreme dieting to the point of starvation and an
inability to discriminate between normal and abnormal body images.
It is commonest among young girls and may be caused by social,
genetic or psychological factors, or a combination of these.
The incidence of anorexia is increasing but it is not known whether
this is due to better reporting and diagnosis of anorexia or whether
it is increasing in real terms. |
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Anorexia is commonest in women
between 10 and 30 years of age. In rare cases, it can present in
adulthood or before puberty. Many more girls than boys are affected
and it is only seen in countries where thinness is considered
desirable.
Research suggests that young people who diet during early
adolescence are at particular risk of developing eating disorders
later in life. This is worrying as recent studies show that:
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As many as 68% of
Dublin school girls under 15 admit that they have tried to lose
weight; |
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39% 11-year-old
Irish school girls wish to lose weight although only 6% of them
are clinically overweight; |
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At least half of all
women will go on a diet at some stage in their life. |
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| ANOREXIA RELATED ITEMS |
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