A look into anorexia.

Once upon a time, in the faraway land of Kuala Lumpur, countless advertisements were made public. But not just any advertisements, as all those praised beautiful and attractive humans with thin (stick-like, even) figures and white teeth. The community was startled at how appealing those individuals were. Where had they been before this? And so beauty became the object of admiration and desire. (This is the beauty of the 'kiasu' mindset - "If she can be pretty, why can't I be prettier?!")

What did that result in? A community filled with young brilliant girls mutilating their bodies in their efforts to lose weight and gain a new level of 'attractiveness'. Did you know that approximately one in every hundred females between the age of ten and twenty is anorexic? There have even been reported cases of anorexia in children as young as three, and individuals up to 76 years of age! However, anorexia occurs most frequently in people between the age 10 and 25. These anorexics have a constant fear of becoming "fat"; and refuse to eat, as in classic anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa is generally defined as an eating disorder characterized by voluntary starvation and exercise stress. Amongst the common physiological characteristics of anorexia is voluntary starvation, exercise stress, and obsessive-compulsive behaviours relating to food, food consumption, or physical activity.

Physical signs of anorexia include dry, yellowish skin and thinning hair. Anorexics also suffer poor health and sunken eyes, besides growing lanugo (a thin hair that grows all over the body, it is a natural physiological reaction to severe starvation and serves to keep the body warm in the absence of fat). Apart from that, they demonstrate symptoms similar to starvation (such as fainting spells) and female anorexics suffer amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation).

Research proves that a particular gene associated with abnormalities related to the neurotransmitter chemical serotonin is more common amongst sufferers of anorexia than in the general population. Such genetic features might result in a higher likelihood of developing high serotonin levels, thus instilling heightened levels of anxiety. Basically, when a person is in a state of starvation, their levels of serotonin decrease, and vice versa. This, however, may raise arguments that an anorexic person avoids food to reduce his or her anxiety.

Victims of overdose of mercury, lead, beryllium and arsenic have been known to develop anorexia. Several psychological characteristics associated with anorexia are similar to symptoms of deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals, for example, magnesium and vitamin B. Zinc deficiency occurs often among anorexics, causing heightened levels of copper (copper is associated with depression and nervousness).

Anorexia nervosa has a negative impact on the immune system and the central nervous system. Often, anorexics are found to exhibit obsessive-compulsive behaviour at some point in their lives. Some researchers have noted that a "small but important minority" of young women with anorexia nervosa may be suffering from undetected and underlying autistic disorders.

Of any psychiatric illness, anorexia has the highest death rate, as starvation can result in major organs shutting down. A heart attack is a very common cause of death in those suffering from anorexia. Osteoporosis is another effect of anorexia, and low calcium intake is only a part of the problem. Even in cases where anorexics consume adequate calcium through food or supplements, amenorrhea prevents the body from absorbing it completely.

As depression comes hand in hand with anorexia, suicide also poses a threat to anorexics. Roughly a quarter of all anorexics attempt suicide, and approximately half of anorexic deaths are caused by suicide.

The scariest thing about this? Those suffering from anorexia will frequently experience vicious cycles of recovery and relapse, unless weight is restored long-term.

And so, at the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy and propagandist, I beg you all, eat! Enjoy your life, don't ruin your future.