2008 Woodie Awards
Ask Annie: Responding to your concerns
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Opinion
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ANNIE NEEDS SOME QUESTIONS FROM YOU, AC STUDENTS! When she doesn't get questions, she will just address a topic of interest in a question/answer format.
Question: What if someone desperately wants to lose some weight and gets sort of carried away with it? That person may look in the mirror and see a body that reminds them of a beached whale, even though in reality, they look just fine to everyone else. She may exercise like crazy, morning, noon and night. She may eat very little, and when she does eat, she is so hungry that she eats anything in sight, even if it isn't very healthy. After a while, though, she stops getting hungry. She may stop having menstrual periods because her body is so starved. Everyone in her life may begin to worry about her, telling her she looks too thin and her skin color is not good. But when she looks in the mirror, she still sees a beached whale. Is this normal?
Annie says: Exercise and eating a balanced diet are good things to remember as one moves toward one's goals. However, I think there are some red flags to watch for in an attempt to lose weight. Our bodies must have fuel in order to function adequately. When we don't give them enough nourishment, our thinking processes, behaviors and relationships will suffer as well as our physical well-being. There is a name for this: anorexia nervosa. That occurs when there is excessive exercise, limited food intake and a distorted sense of self. Anorexia nervosa is a disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a normal body weight, is terrified of getting fat and has a negative view of their body image. Sometimes they will actually starve themselves in an attempt to avoid gaining weight. Statistics on the frequency of anorexia nervosa vary a lot, but it is agreed that eating disorders affect a LARGE number of people in the United States. Between .5 percent and 3.7 percent of females will suffer from the disorder in their lifetime. Some people will die from their refusal to eat, but psychological and medical treatment helps with these conditions.
Annie
The Ranger is not responsible for any comments, ideas, opinions or advice given by Amarillo College counselors or social workers. The Ranger is not responsible for any questions or information submitted to the AC Advising and Counseling Center. Ask Annie provides only reliable information and perspectives so you can make responsible decisions concerning your health and well-being. For professional advice or diagnosis, the Advising and Counseling Center can direct you to appropriate resources.
How to Ask Annie:
There are three ways:
1. E-mail: askannie@actx.edu. Be sure to include the word "Annie" in the subject line.
2. Drop Box: To assure anonymity, use the Ask Annie drop box in the entryway of the College Union Building.
3. Snail Mail: Ask Annie, Amarillo College, P.O. Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178.
Question: What if someone desperately wants to lose some weight and gets sort of carried away with it? That person may look in the mirror and see a body that reminds them of a beached whale, even though in reality, they look just fine to everyone else. She may exercise like crazy, morning, noon and night. She may eat very little, and when she does eat, she is so hungry that she eats anything in sight, even if it isn't very healthy. After a while, though, she stops getting hungry. She may stop having menstrual periods because her body is so starved. Everyone in her life may begin to worry about her, telling her she looks too thin and her skin color is not good. But when she looks in the mirror, she still sees a beached whale. Is this normal?
Annie says: Exercise and eating a balanced diet are good things to remember as one moves toward one's goals. However, I think there are some red flags to watch for in an attempt to lose weight. Our bodies must have fuel in order to function adequately. When we don't give them enough nourishment, our thinking processes, behaviors and relationships will suffer as well as our physical well-being. There is a name for this: anorexia nervosa. That occurs when there is excessive exercise, limited food intake and a distorted sense of self. Anorexia nervosa is a disorder in which the individual refuses to maintain a normal body weight, is terrified of getting fat and has a negative view of their body image. Sometimes they will actually starve themselves in an attempt to avoid gaining weight. Statistics on the frequency of anorexia nervosa vary a lot, but it is agreed that eating disorders affect a LARGE number of people in the United States. Between .5 percent and 3.7 percent of females will suffer from the disorder in their lifetime. Some people will die from their refusal to eat, but psychological and medical treatment helps with these conditions.
Annie
The Ranger is not responsible for any comments, ideas, opinions or advice given by Amarillo College counselors or social workers. The Ranger is not responsible for any questions or information submitted to the AC Advising and Counseling Center. Ask Annie provides only reliable information and perspectives so you can make responsible decisions concerning your health and well-being. For professional advice or diagnosis, the Advising and Counseling Center can direct you to appropriate resources.
How to Ask Annie:
There are three ways:
1. E-mail: askannie@actx.edu. Be sure to include the word "Annie" in the subject line.
2. Drop Box: To assure anonymity, use the Ask Annie drop box in the entryway of the College Union Building.
3. Snail Mail: Ask Annie, Amarillo College, P.O. Box 447, Amarillo, TX 79178.