Anorexia Claims The Life Of My Group Member
Prior to my work at Revolution Health I was the founding editor of an online peer reviewed journal called Clinical Nutrition and Obesity. At Revolution Health, I’ve been leading a thriving community group called, “Lose 20 Pounds.” Sadly, this past week we lost a group member to anorexia.
Anorexia affects 1 in every 200 American women. It is quite common and can be deadly. Some statistics:
-
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
-
A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 – 10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18-20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover.
-
The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old.
-
20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
The group mourns the loss of Amy, a young dancer who leaves behind a husband and two children. Our group encouraged her to get professional help, and in fact she spent her last days in a world-renowned treatment center in England. Sadly, Amy lost her battle with anorexia despite a lot of love and support.
If you’d like to send a message of encouragement to her husband, feel free to click here. And if you know someone who struggles with anorexia, please encourage her/him to get professional help. This disease is dangerous and must be taken very seriously.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
I had so hoped when she first joined, that she would have gotten help in time.
My heart is broken. I am scared, in ways I can’t explain (although I’m sure you, Dr. Val understand).
I am praying for her husband and her children.
I happen to know that there are those who are reading this and judging both Dr. Val and her support group. You don’t have the full story … you don’t know what went on from the beginning. You have no place to judge …so stop … stop it now, because there are enough unjustified feelings of guilt by Dr. Val without you exacerbating them.
I am so sorry for Amy, her husband, and their children. This is a terrible disease which, if not treated in the first couple of years, becomes much more difficult to overcome. It is very difficult for a loved one to stand by and watch someone refuse professional help.
If anybody thinks that a friend or relative might have anorexia, please encourage them to see a professional. They need someone who has been trained in this field to help them through this ordeal.
This is very sad news.