Dealing with Anorexia After Weight Loss

There is a dark side to the weight loss industry which is not always recognized as a health problem. I once encountered someone who made the argument that people from poor families do not suffer from anorexia because they are too busy looking for food. This is a wrong premise that does not take into account the devastating effects of that condition on the human body and spirit. People who have anorexia are not indulged creatures who just want to make a fuss for the sake of it. Rather they are ordinary people who are suffering from serious psychological problems that prevent them from leading a healthy lifestyle. These are people who would give anything to be able to lead normal lives but have been blighted by the dark presence of anorexia.

Although some people are of the view that genes play an important role in determining whether a person will have anorexia, the reality is that this is a condition that affects people from all sorts of families. In my view the media and modern society have a role to play. We have been fed by images of impossibly slim people who are expected to become our role models when it comes ot the ideal body size. Young girls are susceptible to the allures of modern celebrity and will do anything to become as thin as one of their idols even if it means starving themselves to death. There are programs on television which are specifically designed to ridicule people who are overweight. That leaves the young people with the impression that it is some sort of crime to put on weight and that they must do everything in their power to get rid of the weight.

It is no wonder that anorexia has become a big problem in teenagers. They are easily influenced and do not fully understand the implications of abusing their young bodies. Of course there might be some underlying psychological problems that are making the person turn to anorexia but the society that we live in has not helped matters one bit. It is a society that emphasizes appearances over the fundamental worth of a person. There is a uniformity of aspirations that must be worrying to the philosophers. The perfect figure is the thinnest and some modeling agencies do not shy away from insulting girls who look normal because they want them to go on a starvation diet.