Beonka Robinson
April 24, 2012
Women’s Studies 301
Anorexia

A common disease afflicting an enormous number of young Americans is anorexia. While other mischiefs are characterized by the over consumption or the misuse of a product, anorexia is described as an anti-consumption behavior. In this paper, I will discuss what anorexia is, who takes part in it, how it related to race/ethnicity, and the effects of mass media. Anorexia is an eating disorder defined by excessive food restriction, illogical fear of gaining weight, and a misleading negative body self-perception (Nogal & Lewinski, 2008). The disorder naturally consists of extreme weight loss. It is frequently developed during adolescence and early adulthood. People with this disorder constrain the amount of food they consume because of the fear of gaining weight to live up to the delusion of a “perfect person” which does not exist. This causes metabolic and hormonal disorders that may cause long-term effect to the body (Carlson & Heth, 2007).
Anorexia is a medical term for the lack of appetite. On the other hand, people with anorexia do not lose their appetites. It has many complex allegations and may be thought of as a constant illness that may never be truly cured, but only managed over time. Anorexia is characterized by low body weight, inappropriate eating habits, and obsession with having a thin figure. Those who suffer from it may also practice repeated weighing, measuring, and mirror gazing, in conjunction with other compulsive actions to make sure they are still thin. This is a common practice known as “body checking” (Brooks, 2010).
A disorder such as this one is often attached with a partial self-concept which may be maintained by various intellectual prejudices amongst oneself that alter how people evaluate and thinks about their body. Those suffering from this disorder often view