The History of Anorexia Nervosa & Other Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa is more common today than a century ago. People who suffer from Anorexia Nervosa do not have a lack of appetite; they are scared of putting on weight. Unfortunately it is not as simple to treat an individual by just recommending the importance of gaining weight and for some it can be a lifelong battle to overcome this obsession to be thin.

There are many reasons why anorexia is more common today than a decade, century or even a millennium ago. The most obvious factor involved in glamorizing eating disorders has been the media. The media reinforces the value of thin being the ideal. Dieting leads to fasting, fasting leads to binging and if you have the genetics and exposure to the notion of thin is better you might end up being one of the unlucky ones as you find yourself swallowed up by your obsession.

It's important to be aware of how long eating disorders have existed and where our nation currently stands facing this debilitating psychological illness which eventually ends up taking approximately 1/4 of individuals who struggle with this affliction.
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                          Historical Timeline

*Eating disorders have existed since at least the 1st century during the time of Caesar 700 B.C.,

Romans over indulged and purged at lavish banquets so they could return to the banquet and continue to eat

*Persian manuscripts and Chinese scrolls also described modern eating disorders

*African tribal lore fasted to feed their youth then continued even after famine was over

*Wealthy Roman ladies of post-pagan christian era acting under spiritual direction often starved themselves in order to show contempt for the body which was considered evil

*First recorded case of anorexia occurred in a wealthy upper class Roman woman who was a member of a spiritual group led by St. Jerome. Her behavior was driven by her Gnostic beliefs.

*European women of the renaissance period punished their bodies by fasting to reach a higher plane of spirituality and closeness of god. Women of this period were elevated to sainthood for their extreme fasting and devotion to the church.

*1200-1500 Women starved and lived on Eucharist was a central role in women piety, this practice was considered to be a religious idea of suffering along with Christ for the sake of others.

*Historical authors later referenced this starvation to be Anorexia Mirabilis (miraculous loss of appetite)

*Catherine of Siena, a catholic women; born in 1347 live on the Eucharist alone and stuck things down her throat to vomit, she died of starvation in 1380. She was just 33 years old upon her death.

*1680's The first formal description and diagnosis of anorexia was developed in England.

*Sir William Gull a physician to England's royal family was the first to describe anorexia as a disease different then the religious hysteria or biological eating problems. He believed that the disease arose from a mental state. His patients were treated by force feeding, moral teaching and change of scene. In October of 1873 he presented his idea of Anorexia Hysteria to his colleges in the clinical Society of London and named the disorder Anorexia Nervosa meaning...LOSS OF APPETITE.

*1930's the medical community understood anorexia to be a physical disease due to a medical condition

*1930-1933 Ellen West was a popular case studied on anorexia nervosa and Dr.s acknowledged the disorder to consist of not just physical but psychological and emotional

*1970's a study based on clinical research showed that anorexia nervosa is a disease related to the culture we live in. Anorexia is most common in the Western World

*1978, after almost three decades of clinical experiences of Anorexia Nervosa, the psychologist Hilde Burch published the book "The Golden Cage" her book was based on 70 real cases of mostly young women. Her research showed a direct connection to women struggling in American colleges and universities and gave reference to eating disorders were becoming a serious problem

*Karen Carpenter was a popular singer during the 1970's whom died of Anorexia Nervosa from heart failure

*1985 a movie was made, "The Best Little Girl In The World" giving a glimpse into the world of one living with Anorexia

*1990's binge eating disorder was recognized as a formal diagnosis

*1990's-current Eating disorders are becoming symptomatic of modern society

*2006 Eating disorders are the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents

****TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!!