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Albany, NY – Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder that causes people to see themselves as overweight, even when they are significantly underweight. In effect, people who suffer from the disease starve themselves. It can cause complications like heart disease and other illnesses, even death.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, between 5 to 10 million people suffer from anorexia each year. The vast majority are women. And many of them are teenagers.
There are many different theories why anorexia takes hold. Some think it's because of a celebrity culture that places high importance on waif-like appearance. Others blame tough family environment. Still others say it's a genetic issue triggered by certain environmental factors. Whatever the cause, the disease is often extremely isolating. But some anorexics are finding community on the Internet, using blogs to compare dieting and exercise techniques. Independent producer Christopher Krumm took a look at these pro-ana blogs. Here's what he found.
Traditionally, many therapists believed that parents caused anorexia in their kids through neglect or over-emphasis of body image. But a new school of thought is emerging that says anorexia is a genetic disorder, and parents often aren't to blame. In fact, some say parents are the ones who are best equipped to help their kids heal from anorexia.
When her daughter started showing signs of anorexia, which continued to worsen despite months of therapy, Laura Collins decided to make sure her daughter started eating again. She then wrote a book about her experience called Eating With Your Anorexic. Collins also maintains a blog by the same name.
Like many young women, Porsche Colbert struggled with her developing body as a teenager. Here is the Chicago high-schooler's poem about her experience with anorexia, entitled My Friend.