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 1 starve themselves so they weigh at 15% less than their normal weight.
The National Institute of Mental Health says one 2 ten cases of anorexia leads to serious medical problems. These patients can die from heart failure or the disease can lead young women to 3 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. As the sickness progresses, a young woman's breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure rates slow down. The important substance calcium is 4 from the bones, something causing bones to break. Sometimes the brain gets smaller, causing changes in at a person thinks and acts. Scientists say many patients have further mental and emotional problems. They have 5 opinions about themselves. They feel helpless. Their attempts to become extremely thin may represent efforts to take control of their lives. They may 6 dependent on illegal drugs. Some people also feel the need to continually repeat a(n) 7 . For example, they may repeatedly wash their hands although their hands are clean.
Anorexia is a serious eating 8 . If it is not treated on time, it can be fatal.