org/symptoms.htm).Anorexia nervosa is probably the easiest to spot of the three major eating disorders. It was also one of the first to be recorded, as early as 1649, by an English physician. However, it was not until the 1870’s that a Parisian neurologist again described the disorder and a British physician gave it its current name (http://ndmda.org/eating.htm). At first, it was thought to be related to the endocrine system and was treated with thyroid extracts, which did not help. Anorexia nervosa was thought to be a rare disease, but in the early 1980’s it became widely known as a result of the death of Karen Carpenter, a popular singer. Some of the warning signs and symptoms of anorexia nervosa are a very rapid and noticeable weight loss, excessive exercise, unusual eating habits, and of complaining about one’s weight, even when it is within reasonable limits. Fatigue and muscle weakness are brought about by the decrease in food consumption. Evidence of excessive use of laxatives, enemas, diet pills, or frequent vomiting are other signs of the disorder, as are depression, irritability, mood swings, or dizziness. People that suffer from the disorder often wear baggy clothing to hide their weight loss. In women, the loss of the menstrual pattern or an irregular pattern are often signs of the disorder. Other symptoms are headaches, a pale complexion, and cold spells. Curiously, the absence of appetite is very rare until the later stages of the disease. Another symptom is lowered hormonal levels in the patient, very often thyroid suppression (http://www.mirror-mirror.org/def.htm). Factors that could be the precipitating causes of the disease are most likely to be social and psychological, although biological factors could indicate a predisposition towards the disease. In the Unites States and other Western societies, there is much emphasis on a woman being thin to be considered attractive and desirable. ...
