$Unique_ID{BRK01523}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Is a Young Girl With Anorexia Nervosa Mentally Ill?}
$Subject{anorexia nervosa disorder Mental Emotional Conditions Mentally Ill
bulimia psychiatric disorders diseases obsession thin diet emaciation eat
binge eating vomiting irrationally fat society pressure slender thinness
psychological anorexic behavior behaviors conditions illness bulimic disease
obsessive diets dieting binging vomit irrational social pressures}
$Volume{E-23,E-26}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is a Young Girl With Anorexia Nervosa Mentally Ill?


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QUESTION:  Is it correct to think of a young girl with anorexia nervosa as
being mentally ill?  We are very concerned about the condition of our
granddaughter and would like to know more about this condition.

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ANSWER:  Taken in an overall perspective, the answer is "yes".  Anorexia
nervosa and the closely related bulimia nervosa are both psychiatric
"disorders", rather than mental "diseases".  With both conditions, a patient's
obsession with being thin causes them to diet to the point of emaciation and
sickness.  In anorexia, the patient refuses to eat enough, while in bulimia
the patient goes through cycles of binge eating and then induced vomiting.
The two conditions often overlap.
     However, it would be neither correct nor just to consider someone
suffering anorexia as being crazy or mentally deranged.  Eating disorders are
not simply a mask for depression.  People with anorexia or bulimia are
irrationally afraid of becoming fat and may be more vulnerable to the pressure
that society puts on us that says "be slender", "only thinness is beautiful".
Anorexia and bulimia can both be cured with treatment that involves both
medical and psychological support.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.