A Girl Battling For Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that can cause a person to literally “waste away,” in some cases starving to death. Anorexics develop an intense fear of gaining weight and perceive themselves as fat even when they are, in reality, rail-thin. They may try to stop eating entirely, exercise excessively, or purge their food by vomiting or misusing laxatives. (Fairburn and Brownell, 156,157) The malnutrition caused by these extreme techniques can cause irreparable damage to the anorexic’s body, even if the disease is treated before it kills.
Most often, eating disorders affect teenage girls and young women; females are estimated to be seven to tens times more likely to develop an eating disorder than males. Further risk factors include family life (anorexics often come from families where there are strict rules or rigid expectations or where there are problems in the home), genetic predisposition, and chemical imbalances in the parts of the brain that control metabolism and reaction to stress.
The following is a fictional case study of Jeena, a teenage girl battling anorexia nervosa.
Jeena enjoyed her life in high school. She excelled in her studies as well as athletics. She was popular, but not ostentatious; a somewhat shy, attractive young woman with an average build (5’6”, 135 lbs.) toned by her participation in sports and gymnastics. Having a strong parental influence in her life helped her to excel, but also made her constantly feel like her parents controlled her, that she had no sense of autonomy from them.
The onset of puberty brought her attention from the boys at school, but, as she developed, her body started to change. Her breasts became larger, her hips became fuller, and her slender frame began to gain weight.