Bodies

Anorexia is a very serious condition where people lose large amounts of weight due to excessive dieting. Anorexia is generally developed over time as a way of coping with emotional pain, stress, or unhappiness, although the true cause of anorexia is unknown and can involve both genetic and environmental factors.

People suffering from anorexia consider themselves to be fat, no matter what their actual weight is and quite often do not realise how thin they actually are. Sufferers of anorexia may insist that they look just right and have an intense fear of becoming fat. They also have a fear that they will lose control of their eating behaviour and body size once they start eating again.

Anorexia is most common between the ages of 15-25 however, it has been reported to have affected people as young as 9 years of age. It is most often associated with girls however, there are many boys that also suffer from anorexia. It has been estimated that approximately 1 to 3 per cent of females suffer from anorexia. It is not known how many males suffer from the illness.

People with anorexia do not usually realise that they have a problem so are quite often not willing to seek help. It is important to be encouraging and supportive if you know of someone who has anorexia to seek help from appropriate people.

Signs to look for

It is very hard to determine whether someone may be suffering from anorexia or any other eating disorder, and below are some of the indicators to look for:

• noticeable weight loss – 15% below normal/healthy weight range
• refusal to maintain bodyweight at healthy range
• intense fear of gaining weight
• disturbed body image
• amenorrhoea, tiredness, lethargy, stomach cramps, bloating
• excessive exercise
• obsession with food, calories and recipes
• excuses for not eating such as 'I've already eaten' or 'not feeling well'
• complaining of being 'too fat' even when they are thin
• frequently checking weight on scales
• taking laxatives, diet pills or diuretics
• depression, irritability or mood swings
• wearing baggy clothes to hide the weight loss

Helping friends

You cannot force someone with anorexia to eat, but there are some things that you can do to help the person:

• encourage the person to seek help (you can do this by gently expressing concern and bring supportive, knowing where to go for help)
• communication and trust is important – create an environment where your friend feels comfortable and is able to express their concerns in a safe place
• let them know you care – try not to be sympathetic, but instead offer support and advice on where they can go for help

The important thing is that you be a friend and not a therapist. You cannot solve the problems for them. It can be tough to be a friend to a person with an eating disorder. They may be irritable at times however, it is not a personal attack on you. It is quite often due to the disorder itself.

Hang in there! You are not alone. Recovery takes time and there will be both positive and negative times in the recovery of someone with an eating disorder. Remember to take time out yourself and talk to other people about it, there are a lot of services that can help you or a friend with an eating disorder. More information is available from specialist eating disorder sites on the net.