Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which is commonly known only as anorexia.
Even though many males too may develop eating disorders, but anorexia is quite unusual in them.
It is most prevalent in girls of 15 -18 years as anorexia commonly starts in the mid teens.
You should start the treatment for anorexia nervosa as soon as it is detected as it is physically as well as mentally destructive.
The mindset of a girl with anorexia is that she has to be the thinnest person on the earth.
She is so fixed with this idea that sometimes she may seem to be stupid and stubborn.
She believes it is the only way to survive.
Persons suffering from anorexia will have severe weight loss as a result of very strict dieting.
They make themselves sick by doing excessive exercise or abusing laxatives for losing weight.
People afflicted with this condition have an extreme fear of gaining weight and view their own body weight and shape in an unrealistic way.
As a consequence they are not able to maintain a normal body weight.
They restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting or excessive exercise.
Normally they will avoid eating at all and whatever small amount they eat, becomes an obsession.
There is treatment available for any person suffering from anorexia.
And studies have shown that due to these treatments about 4 out of 10 with make a full recovery and others would show improvement.
The first and foremost way to treating anorexia should be to make the person understand that there is no problem with them and it is in their mind only.
This can be achieved by taking therapy.
You have to help them in changing their attitude and behavior towards adjusting with life's stress and strain without taking the illness as a shield.
There are various support groups and therapists available who specialize in treating eating disorders.
They can help the individual suffering from anorexia learn how to stay healthy and peaceful with themselves and their food.
The person suffering with anorexia can work on a nutritional plan along with a psychotherapist on a daily basis to come out of their eating troubles.