Mend Your Diet

Anorexia???

So how does anorexia work? lol. Im not looking to be anorexic, and totally understand it wrecks peoples life and everything, but I just want to know; How do you lose weight by not eating? Because when you fast it slows your mentabolisom and your body stores fat? But then people suffering from anorexia become so underwieght? How does that work? Thanks in advance! =]]

Public Comments

1. well when you fast for a few days your body stores fat, but when you dont eat for weeks, months even then you're body doesnt know what to do, so you become underweight
2. You are correct about the metabolism. Initially your body goes into "starvation mode" because all of a sudden it isn't getting nearly enough nutrition, if any at all. So it slows down and stores fat to survive the "famine" that it's facing. But eventually it will adapt to this stage as being something not so short-lived. Then it will burn through the little food you eat very quickly and since that wont be enough to sustain it it will begin using it's fat reserves. When those get low it will feed on your muscles for energy to function, including your most important muscle, your heart! This can lead to funky heart rhythms (you will already have a major electrolyte imbalance), poor blood circulation and pressure, and eventually will lead to cardiac arrest (DEATH!). hope that answers your question
3. Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls. People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it. The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running