ny in the general population, anorexia and bulimia are primarily a problem for adolescent girls. Adolescent girls are much more likely to be impacted by these disorders, probably because of their vulnerable state. There are two main forms of eating disorder that will be discussed here, anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
In order to understand these patterns, it is first necessary to describe, or define, them. Anorexia nervosa is a process of self starvation in which the individual avoids eating any food at all in order to avoid obesity. It is primarily linked to adolescent girls who seem to be overwhelmed by the culturally imposed standards of body type. According to Bruch (1973), anorexia is a "relentless pursuit of thinness through self starvation, even unto death" (p. 4). Although the death certificate may not assign anorexia as the final cause, some girls and young women actually do die of the disease. During the last year, one renowned woman gymnast died of anorexia.
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