Anorexia is a problem that affects many girls especially those in their teenage years. Anorexia is a condition in which people starve themselves in order to lose weight. Usually anorexia is caused by low self esteem and body image issues.
Anorexia is a serious condition that can be fatal. Anorexia causes the body to be starved of nutrients and without nutrients your body systems begin to shut down and eventually you will die because your organs will no longer be able to support your body.
Girls with anorexia exhibit these tell tale signs:
1. Decrease in weight- if you see that the girl in question is losing weight at a fast pace.
2. Baggy clothing- if you see that the girl's normal clothes are now baggy this could be a sign that they are starving themselves and are anorexic.
3. Loss of appetite- if the girl has little interest in food or takes their plate to their room this could be a sign that they are anorexic. Often, girls with anorexia hide their food in their rooms or throw it away secretly in order to avoid arising suspicion from others.
4. Over exercising- many anorexic girls over exercise in order to get thinner faster. Keep an eye on how much exercising the girl is doing and keep note of how many days and how long each exercise session lasts.
5. Menstrual cycle has stopped- often girls who become too thin do not get their menstrual cycles every month. Check the trash and see if there are tampons or maxi pads in the trash in order to determine whether the girl is having their menstrual cycle.
6. The girl constantly weighs herself- if the girl is obsessively weighing herself then she might be suffering from anorexia.
7. Loss of hair- many girls with anorexia have thinning hair or start losing their hair because of lack of nutrients.
Anorexia is a very serious issue. If you are a parent and observe these tell tale signs of anorexia in your daughter then you must talk to your daughter and if necessary get her treatment to deal with her anorexia. Too many girls with this condition suffer in silence because they feel so desperate to be loved. As a parent, you must address this issue delicately and carefully in order to reach your daughter and help her. You should reassure your daughter that she is perfect the way that she is and that you will do whatever she needs in order to recover from this condition. Communication is crucial to helping a girl with this condition so listen to what your daughter has to say and be a sounding board for her.
If you know of a girl who might have anorexia please inform one of the girl's teachers, parents, or other relatives. This condition is very serious and needs to be handled in a timely fashion. Hopefully, you will be able to spot anorexia early so further health implications can be prevented.
