Experience of Women who have Survived Anorexia

Anorexia is most commonly known as a fear of food and fear of getting fat. It usually begins in girls and women when they are young, often during adolescence or early adulthood. Some women I’ve mentioned in my essay will testify to their experience with anorexia. In my research, I found that much of adolescent and young adult anorexia can be attributed to social media and peer pressure at school.

Social media can make women feel inadequate within just thirty minutes of exposure to the “perfect” bodies portrayed (Sundquist 1).

This is most clearly seen on Instagram, the app with over one billion users worldwide, more than half of whom are women. Instagram features numerous models advertising for various companies, often flaunting every inch and curve of their bodies. Such images of “perfection” can make many women feel pressured to lose weight rapidly, which can lead to anorexia.

The school system also contributes to the pressure felt by adolescent girls regarding their physical appearance. The emphasis on physical education can exacerbate anorexia in young teenage girls, implicitly suggesting that they should be as slender as a stop sign pole. This can cause them undue stress and anxiety. These actions are not adequately addressed. While researching anorexia, I came across a book that described the personal experiences of a young woman named Lauren, who overcame this disorder. Lauren recounted how she would feel judged and watched by her peers during lunch, making eating difficult. It was as though anyone who saw her eating would consider it “wrong” and disgusting.

In this same book, a young woman named Gwyneth shared her experiences with anorexia. One statement that particularly struck me was her description of looking back at her journal entries from that period. She was taken aback by how controlling anorexia can be, likening it to a starving mind that blinds you to other considerations (Abraham 132). For instance, she mentioned that while suffering from anorexia, she would forego even lotion for fear that the fat within it could seep into her skin. Furthermore, anorexia disrupted her menstrual cycle, illustrating that it affects not just the body’s exterior but also its internal structure and functions.

Growing up without proper nutrition affects not just a girl’s childhood, but also her adult life. Those who are undernourished as children may not learn how to properly regulate their food intake as humans should. When these children grow into adults and begin living independently, their bodies, still unaccustomed to holding much food, may be unable to store adequate nourishment.

In an article I came across, I found that the most common anorexia symptoms can be found in the mouth. For example, hypersensitivity to hot and cold, a throat displaying redness, and spots on the teeth created by repeated contact with acidic vomited contents. Oftentimes, people aren’t diagnosed with anorexia until they have an oral check-up, after which symptoms or spots in their mouth or on their teeth might lead healthcare professionals to think that a person is experiencing anorexia. In some cases, mostly directed towards women, anorexia becomes so severe that they stop producing estrogen, which can damage their bones (Dentists Often 5).

A woman with severe anorexic symptoms would be able to calculate the calorie content of specific amounts of food, driven by an intense fear of gaining even a slight amount of weight. She may also weigh herself multiple times throughout the day and frequently use the restroom immediately after eating a meal in order to vomit it all back out. Women with anorexia may isolate themselves more than average individuals due to anxiety surrounding social events and potential food encounters. Rather than appearing bored or apathetic at an event for not wanting to eat, they may eat in front of others to avoid raising concern or being forced to consume anything. However, shortly after a meal, women with anorexia will typically vomit the ingested food. These behaviors are major indicators that a woman is struggling with her weight or encountering the disease of anorexia.

Social media platforms and schools play major roles in cases of anorexia; these are the places where a significant number of young women are diagnosed as anorexic. Women should exercise caution in what they post on any social media platform, but especially Instagram. Schools should educate young women on how to maintain fitness without enforcing unrealistic thinness. Young girls who are underfed can also be diagnosed as anorexic if they lack knowledge about proper food intake. The personal experiences of the two young women discussed in my essay underscore the symptoms I have presented to the reader.

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