Anorexia nervosa is classified as an eating disorder closely tied to psychological illness. In fact, anorexia affects no less than 70 million people globally thereby contributing to protein-energy malnutrition prevalence according to the World Health Organization. In the U. S. alone, the National Institute of Mental Health reported that this eating disorder includes a prevalence of 5.6 % per decade topping all other illnesses among women.

This disorder begins with a person’s low self-esteem and unhealthy image of one’s body. Anorexia has physical symptoms that can be easily spotted such as pale skin color, brittle or falling hair, discolored nails, very thin figure, and possibly swollen arms or legs. People afflicted with anorexia wear layers of clothing to hide their frail figure and to prevent feeling cold. Excessive loss of weight reduces amount of fat in the body which serves as insulation against cold weather. Moreover, anorexic people are always feeling tired due to lack of sleep and proper nourishment. Anorexic people frequently go through periods of starvation which can lead to serious complications. The body loses potassium and sodium during fasting which causes it to become weak. Moreover, low levels of potassium can bring about irregular heartbeats and even cardiac arrest.

Socially, people with anorexia dislike other people who are overweight or obese. They think that these people are not disciplined since they cannot manage their body weight. On the contrary, people with anorexia have obsessive-compulsive drives that make them pursue excessive exercise and fasting just to fit into their own distorted concept of a healthy body. Students suffering from anorexia find it difficult to focus on their studies since their brain is deprived of sleep and nourishment.

Anorexia information can be gathered through medical books and are frequently categorized as eating disorder. In addition to this, anorexia information is abundant online since there are many counselors who specialize in this type of eating disorders. Websites of good clinics and hospitals also present a segment of their site on eating disorder topics which discusses symptoms, risks, causes, complications, treatment, recovery and coping.

There are also alternative medicine approaches in treating anorexia. It is also possible to read about anorexia on government sites about health since these websites comprehensively discuss the illnesses or diseases experienced by the general population. As mentioned, anorexia nervosa has gained progress as a disorder globally. Nonetheless, anorexia information can be easily accessed by the general public.