Kerala Teen Dies After Water Fasting — What Is Anorexia Nervosa And Dangers Of The 'Go Slim' Fad
The issue triggers problems such as abnormal eating habits among victims. They often use this method to cope with stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
The death of a Kerala teen from complications related to Anorexia Nervosa has sparked renewed concern over the alarming rise of eating disorders. The girl was undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit of Thalassery Co-operative Hospital. She was admitted to the hospital 12 days ago.
The complications were triggered by her decision to abstain from food for nearly six months. The 18-year-old girl was undertaking an extreme water fasting regimen influenced by online portals.
Consultant physician at the hospital, Dr. Nagesh Manohar Prabhu, told India Today that the girl weighed just 24 kilograms and was bedridden. "Her sugar levels, sodium, and blood pressure were critically low," the report said on Tuesday.
She succumbed after her conditions failed to improve despite ventilator support.
What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Rise in eating orders, particularly among teenagers, has been partially attributed to the influence of social media and its impact on users’ mental health. Anorexia nervosa, also known as anorexia, is one such serious medical illness that makes people obsess about their weight, Johns Hopkins Medicine explained.
People must understand that anorexia is not a lifestyle choice as might be projected on social media. "If you have this problem, you may have a distorted body image. You may see yourself as overweight even though you have a very low body weight," Johns Hopkins Medicine explains Anorexia Nervosa on its website.
The issue triggers problems such as abnormal eating habits among victims. They often use this method to cope with stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this problem is not unique to teenagers. People of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and body weight, or genders, can be affected by Anorexia. However, it noted that the problem is more common among women and often starts in teen years.
In extreme cases, the illness can lead to other problems such as substance use disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anorexia is associated with suicide and has higher mortality than any other mental disorder.
