To the Bone

Anorexia Nervosa develops when people eat only what will barely sustain them. This disease is very hazardous to your health since you are depriving your body of nutrients by limiting the amount of food. This is especially problematic for dancers, because they depend on their bodies to be healthy and fit enough to withstand training.

When the human body does not getting enough nutrition, it is forced to slow down in order to compensate. This slowing down can have serious consequences:

1. Starving causes an abnormally slow heart rate and very low blood pressure. This results in the heart muscle itself changing. The chance of heart failure rises as heart rate and blood pressure decrease.

2. Lack of calcium in an anorexic's diet, since they are not getting enough food in general, provides a great risk of reduced bone density, which is known as osteoporosis. This creates bones that are dry and brittle, which makes them very susceptible to breaking.

3. Severe dehydration is common, because anorexics also do not drink enough water. If not treated it can ultimately lead to kidney failure.

4. Overall weakness, including fatigue and fainting, become prevalent. This makes it hard to make it through the day.

5. Due to the fact of dehydration, hair becomes dry and begins to thin. This is the reason hair loss is very common among anorexics.

And now a few statistics about this disease that you may or may not be aware of:

a. About 90-95% of the people who suffer from this disease are women, most of them young girls. Which is the age most dancers begin more formal and intense training.

b. About 1% of all American women suffer from Anorexia Nervosa.

c. Of all the psychiatric disorders, Anorexia Nervosa is the most common diagnosed in women in general.

d. The mortality rate of people suffering from Anorexia Nervosa is between 5 and 20%. The probability of death increases with the length of time the person has been suffering from the disease.

e. Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest rates of death of all mental disorders.

Anorexia is a serious condition that takes control of the body and mind. Providing young dancers with the knowledge of its affects can help to spread awareness and prevent them from taking this route. It is also necessary to watch for signs of the disease, so as to impede any development.