“I seem like a normal, well-adjusted 15-year-old high school sophomore. I like talking on the phone with friends, cycling, watching TV and spending time with my boyfriend. I get above average grades and enjoy math and science classes the best. However, about a year ago, my weight dropped to 72 pounds. I lay in a hospital bed with disheveled hair, frail limbs and a sunken face. I was seriously ill. The evil disease was not cancer or AIDS. I suffered from anorexia, a condition that affects many adolescents and young adults, especially young women.” Holly (Caringonline.org) Anorexia is a type of eating disorder with an intense fear of gaining weight. They severely limit the amount of food they eat and can become dangerously thin (1). Anorexia affects both the mind and body and can even become deadly. Anorexia usually begins during adolescence and can extend into adulthood. Untreated anorexia can lead to hunger and serious health problems, such as osteoporosis, kidney damage and heart problems. Some people die from these problems (1). The cause of anorexia is not completely understood. It is thought to come from a mix of physical, emotional, and social triggers (2). Extreme dieting changes the functioning of the brain and metabolism and stresses the body. Genetics play an important role in anorexia. A combination of certain personality traits such as low self-confidence along with perfectionism and cultural and social pressures can play an important role in anorexia. For some adolescents, anorexia can be a way to cope with stressful events, such as moving, divorce, or the death of a loved one (2). People who suffer from anorexia will often deny that anything is wrong. Nearly half of people suffering from anorexia will sooner or later develop symptoms, binge-eating behaviors... middle of paper..." on their legs and stomach. She adamantly refused to see a doctor until she fainted. while getting on the school bus, in the fall she cut her forehead; her parents took her to the emergency room, the doctor said that Anne suffered from anorexia nervosa and admitted her to the hospital immediately (library.thinkquest.org). you catch it in time. Physically and psychologically anorexia will destroy your body and mind. Mentally by starving you think you are in control, but the disease ends up controlling you. Anorexia starts at a young age and affects teenagers, but it can also affect adulthood.