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New Anorexia Study Answers Questions |
Current Info on Eating Disorders |
Eating Disorders
New Anorexia Study Answers Questions hen it comes to eating disorders, few are as tragic as anorexia. It's a disorder that many of us are familiar with, but few realize what terrible consequences that anorexia can have on someone's body. For a long time, we've known that anorexia is a problem that occurs on a psychological level, and it's tough for anorexics to overcome their problem by just wishing it away. Many sufferers feel the same bad way about their bodies when they are trying to stop the eating disorder, and it can cause them to relapse, leading to worse problems. When the body isn't getting enough nutrition, it suffers. Anorexics, if untreated, will experience stunted bone development, heart problems, muscle wasting and generally depressed health. Many suffer psychologically from the disorder as well, with feelings of shame and low self-image being the result of their woes. For that reason, it's important that anyone who has the disorder should seek treatment for their own well-being. While counseling and treatment can be helpful, many anorexics relapse into their condition afterwards. Sadly, many anorexics pay the ultimate price and die as a result of the damage that the disorder does to their body. Recently, a study was conducted which has helped to shed some light on the problem that anorexics face with their bodies.
Doctor Naresh Mondraty of the University of New South Wales presented the results of a research study that his team had conducted at the school. The study consisted of several anorexic women who were shown pictures of their own body and pictures of other women's bodies. Brain scans were taken as the girls were looking at the images, and the researchers found astonishing results. As it turns out, when the girls looked at images of their own body, certain parts of their brain simply 'shut down', showing that the girls pattern of thought regarding their self image was largely negative. The suppression of the brain activity shown in the brain scans proved that the girls were chemically depressed about their own appearance, even when they were well below their recommended body weight. This study can help to show why it is so hard for anorexics to recover from their problems. Since the girls' brain activity showed that their bodies resulted in serious changes in the way the brain was functioning, it can be a difficult cycle to break. While we've always known that anorexia existed on a largely psychological level, the neurological connections that this study has shown should prove to take some of the shame away from the disease. It shows that anorexia nervosa is a serious problem with one's physical and mental health that can be very difficult to conquer. The girls in the study showed that regardless of what the world said about their bodies, they honestly felt disgusted by their own appearance. Hopefully, the light that this shines upon the eating disorder's basic chemistry will prove to be of merit in helping to solve the problem in the future.
### While the articles on this Website were written with great care, errors or omissions may occur. The information is provided "as-is", without any warranty whether expressed or implied. All readers agree to use the information provided on this site entirely at their own risk. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition whatsoever - including eating disorders. If you suspect you or someone you know has an eating disorder, always seek the advice of a professional medical doctor. |
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ating disorders include complusive overeating (eating excessively) or eating far too little (overly restrictive eating) or any other compulsion to eat in a manner that upsets or threatens physical health. Eating disorders that are continued over time may have severe consequences on a person's health, including death.