Experts say about 1% of young women in the United States are almost starving themselves today. They are suffering from a sickness called anorexia.

These young women have an abnormal fear of getting fat. They  51  starve themselves so they weigh at 15% less than their normal weight.

The National Institute of Mental Health says one  52  ten cases of anorexia leads to serious medical problems. These patients can die from heart failure or the disease can lead young women to  53  themselves. For example, former gymnast Christy Henrich died at age 22. She weighed only 61 pounds.

A person with anorexia first develops joint and muscle problems. There is a lack of iron in the blood.  54  the sickness progresses, a young woman's breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure rates slow down. The important substance calcium is  55  from the bones, something causing bones to break. Sometimes the brain gets smaller, causing changes in  56  a person thinks and acts. Scientists say many patients have further mental and emotional problems. They have  57  opinions about themselves. They feel helpless. Their attempts to become extremely thin may  58  efforts to take control of their lives. They may become dependent on illegal drugs. Some people also feel the need to continually repeat a(n)  59 . For example, they may repeatedly wash their hands although their hands are clean.

Anorexia is a serious eating  60 . If it is not treated on time, it can be fatal.