As described in the DSM IV, the essential features of Anorexia Nervosa are the refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight - meaning below 85% of what is considered normal for one's age and height - an intense fear of gaining weight which often increases as actual weight decreases, and distortion in the perception of the shape or size of one's body. Individuals with Anorexia develop a total pre-occupation with food and often devise elaborate rituals of how much they can consume and at what intervals. This behavior may also be accompanied by episodes of bingeing, followed by purging or the use of laxatives. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 7 million women and 1 million men suffer from this debilitating disorder, numbers which may not reflect the actual incidence of anorexia, given it's clandestine nature. With the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder ranging from 5-20%, anorexia claims approximately 1000 lives......

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Title: Pro-Anorexia : Promoting Psychological Disorder
Approximate Word Count: 1324
Approximate Pages: 6 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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