Losing weight becomes an obsession for anorexics, and they're typically preoccupied with food, menus, calories, grocery shopping, and tend to develop odd eating rituals and exercise strenuously to stay thin. In some cases, fingernails and hair become brittle, skin dries and yellows, constipation occurs, bones thin out, and heart and kidney problems develop. Treatment of the disease generally involves trying to normalize eating behavior and change attitudes about food, eating, and body size. It may also include medication, psychotherapy, behavior modification, and nutrition counseling. For more information on anorexia, contact a health care professional.
Most people enjoy eating.
It's not only pleasurable, but also necessary to sustain life. However, some people become so focused on food that it becomes an addiction. An addiction is a physical or psychological dependence on a substance or behavior, and an addiction to food can manifest itself in both overeating and under-eating. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive eating, are characterized by addictive behavior. Psychologically, food becomes the central focus of people with these conditions, and the obsession is often so extreme that it prevents them from living a healthy lifestyle.