Understanding anorexia

It’s no secret there’s a disparity between the average U.S. woman who weighs 140 pounds and stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and the average American model who weighs 117 pounds and 5 feet 11 inches tall.

The comparison comes from the National Eating Disorders Assn., which counts body image as a factor that may contribute to anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Who suffers most from anorexia? Forty percent of new cases are girls between 15 and 19 years old. Find out the symptoms of anorexia and the toll the disease takes on the human body at WomensHealth.gov.

Beyond taking care of a patient’s immediate medical and nutritional needs, there’s no magic bullet for curing anorexia. Treatment often comes in some form of therapy, and not every therapy works for every patient.

Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune sheds light on a new approach to anorexia in her blog Julie’s Health Club in the post “Study: Family-based anorexia treatment most effective.”

--Mary Forgione / Los Angeles Times