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There was an interesting documentary yesterday on TV about Anorexia Nervosa Disorder. The four cases that were shown were from four woman aged 15, 18, 23 and 32. The 32 years old is a person I know. I already knew she suffered for that disorder but I was never too close to ask for details.

All the four cases started with “a diet” just to lose a few pounds and the obsession for constant diet came afterwards when losing a few pounds wasn’t enough.

But what is Anorexia Nervosa?:

Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight. They severely limit the amount of food they eat and can become dangerously thin.

Anorexia affects both the body and the mind. It may start as dieting, but it gets out of control. You think about food, dieting, and weight all the time. You have a distorted body image. Other people say you are too thin, but when you look in the mirror, you see a fat person. Continue reading here.

What causes anorexia?

Eating disorders are complex, and experts don’t really know what causes them. But they may be due to a mix of family history, social factors, and personality traits. You may be more likely to have anorexia if:

Other people in your family are obese, have an eating disorder, or have a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety.

You have a job or do a sport that stresses body size, such as ballet, modeling, or gymnastics.

You are the type of person who tries to be perfect all the time, never feels good enough, or worries a lot.

You are dealing with stressful life events, such as divorce, moving to a new town or school, or losing a loved one.

Continue reading here.

How is it treated?

All people who have anorexia need treatment. Even if you or someone you care about has only a couple of the signs of an eating disorder, get help now. Early treatment gives the best chance of overcoming anorexia.

Treatment can help you get back to and stay at a healthy weight, learn good eating habits, and learn to feel better about yourself. Because anorexia is both a physical and emotional problem, you may work with a doctor, a dietitian, and a counselor.

There are no medicines to treat anorexia. But if you are depressed or anxious, your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medicine. Continue reading here

If you have teenagers, a relative, a friend that is on a diet and keeps trying to lose more and more weight, please make sure it is a simple diet and not a diet out of control. Those who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa can die if they don’t get help on time.

Yes, it’s not advised to exercise with an empty stomach, however we shouldn’t exercise with a full stomach either.

The best option is to make a moderate breakfast with a good source of carbonate hydrates like bread or dry cookies. After 8 hours of night fasting we need to reestablish our energetic reserves. To practice good exercise we must have energy and exercise in fasting is not appropriate, because the body, in the absence of food (energy) is going to deteriorate the muscle to produce sugar and feed the chemical’s reactions of the body. The risk of accident or injure due to distraction or tiredness is bigger.

After an exercise session it’s important to eat a meal to regain the muscle glycogen. It’s also important to drink a lot of liquids to keep a good hydration of the body.

You can keep track of your liquid loses by weighing yourself before and after exercising.

Exercise is good for help but…exercise safely

Even with a regular medical check-up (blood tests and ECG) all people practicing any kind of sport should be careful with excessive sweating and tiredness.

Drink a lot of ionized water and natural fruit juice in a regular way along the day, allow to manage the lose through sweating, breathing and urine, as well as the loss from the muscle “work”. Avoid sodas, drink with caffeine or other energetic drinks.

Some sports (biking, skate, roller skates, etc) continue to be the cause of several accidents that should be prevented. Protective accessories for the head, elbows, knee, resistant clothes and shoes should be used.

For outdoor sports the sun protector shouldn’t be forgotten in sunny days as well as sunglasses. During the hotter months sports should be practice at the begin or at the end of the day.

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