Science-Psychology+Behind+Anorexia

__**A Psychological Disorder:**__
Anorexia is not only an eating disorder, but also a psychological disorder. It has been considerd an axis 1 disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. It has been shown that eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa are reinforced by reward and attention. P.Sodersten and other psychologists suggest that effective treatment of this disorder depends on re-establishing reinforcement for normal eating behaviors rather than unhealthy weight loss.

Diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa includes an intense fear of gaining weight,the trepedation in holding body weight above 85% of the norm, and three consecutive missed periods and either refusal to admit the severity of the weight loss, or a disturbed experience in one's shape or weight.

In Simpler terms, Anorexia is the misperception of one's image. Anorexic individuals have are influenced by the commercial image of skinny is pretty. They eat very little or stop eating in order to become that commercial image, but they reach a point of fatality.

Connection: Most people think anorexia is just a cry for attention, but it is in fact considered a disorder and is studied in psychology. In my psychology college now course, I briefly learned about anorexia and how it is in fact a disorder. Contrary to popular belief, it is an illness and part of science. Hopefully this section will inform people of that.