a diet restricted to only a few foods.
The intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat that characterizes anorexics is seldom alleviated by an experience of weight loss (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 540). Frequently among anorexics, concern about potential weight gain increases as a person's weight continues to decrease.
With respect to the perception of body image, some anorexics feel that they are globally overweight (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 540). Other anorexics realize that globally they are thin, yet remain concerned that specific parts of their bodies--abdomen, buttocks, thighs, and so forth--are fat.
The self-esteem of an anorexic person is closely associated with that person's perception of her or his body shape and weight (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 540). Weight loss is viewed by anorexics as an impressive achievement that reflects a high-degree of self-discipline on the part of the person. Conversely, weight gain is perceived by the anorexic as "an unacceptable failure of self-control" on the part of the individual (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 540).
Anorexic individuals frequently exhibit symptoms of clinical depression (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 541). Obsessive-compulsive behaviors, both related and unrelated to food, also are prominent among anorexics. Some anorexics also exhibit concerns related to eating in public, personal ineffectiveness, inflexible thinking, overly constrained initiative and emotional expression, limited social spontaneity, and a strong need to control their own environment.
Cultural Associations With Anorexia Nervosa
The mean age of onset of anorexia nervosa is 17 years old, and the 14-to-18 years old population segment is the age group that is most at-risk for the development of the eating disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 1994, p. 543). Approximately 90 percent of anorexics in the ...