Overcome Anorexia  Women find this 2 CD set helpful with Bulimia & AnorexiaNews article in Italy: French actress Isabelle Caro, 27, who has suffered anorexia for 15 years and weighs just 31 kilograms appears in the adverts next to the slogan "No Anorexia." The campaign, for fashion label Nolita, Flash&Partners is intended to show the reality of anorexia -- an illness the company says that "in most cases is caused by the stereotypes imposed on women by the fashion world." It is set to coincide with Milan Fashion Week, which, along with Madrid, has banned skinny models from its catwalks. The campaign, by photographer Oliviero Toscani, has been met with mixed response. While some have praised the adverts for bringing the issue of anorexia out into the open, others believe it could act as a trigger in some people already suffering from the disease. Luisa Bertoncello, managing director of Flash&Partners said she was "shocked by the explicitness and blatant truth" the photo conveys. "Today though, the intention of many companies is to use advertising as an instrument to promote social awareness of social evils," she said. Toscani, who is known for producing confrontational images, said: "I've been looking into the problem of anorexia for years. Who's responsible? Communication in general? Television? Fashion? "So it's very interesting that in the end a fashion company has understood the importance of the problem, and with full awareness has found the courage to take the risk that this campaign involves." Italian minister for health, Livia Turco has also backed the campaign. "An initiative like this can effectively open an original and privileged communications channel with young people with a message of great impact that can promote responsibility towards the problem of anorexia," she said. The fear is young women witnessing her extreme thinness, may launch themselves into an inner competition for maximized weight loss. Anorexia nervosa
Signs and symptoms Anorexia can be categorized in two ways, although the categories often overlap and the lines between them blur. With each, the hallmark is being underweight or even emaciated. The two categories of anorexia are: § Restricting. People lose weight mainly through severely restricting the amount of food they eat. They also try to lose weight by exercising excessively. § Binge-eating/purging. People try to control their weight by purging — that is, getting rid of food or calories by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas. Some may binge, or eat excessive amounts of food, and then purge. Others may purge after eating only a small amount, such as a single piece of candy. People with anorexia frequently move back and forth between these two categories, or they may adopt a combination of these behaviors. Anorexia, no matter which type, has a number of physical, emotional and behavioral signs and symptoms besides drastic weight loss. Physical indications
Physical signs and symptoms of anorexia include: § Thin appearance § Abnormal blood counts § Fatigue § Dizziness or fainting § Brittle nails § Hair that thins, breaks or falls out § Soft, downy hair covering the body § Absence of menstruation § Constipation § Dry skin § Intolerance of cold § Irregular heart rhythms § Low blood pressure § Dehydration § Osteoporosis * Inibility to think clearly * Thoughts making no sense Emotional and behavioral indications
Emotional and behavioral characteristics associated with anorexia include: § Refusal to eat § Denial of hunger § Excessive exercise § Flat mood, or lack of emotion § Difficulty concentrating § Preoccupation with food Red flags to watch for
Signs and symptoms of anorexia may not always be readily apparent. People with anorexia often go to great lengths to disguise their thinness or other physical problems, or their disordered eating behavior. If you're concerned about a loved one, watch for these red flags: § Skipping meals § Making excuses for not eating § Eating only a few certain "safe" foods, usually those low in fat and calories § Adopting rigid meal or eating rituals, such as cutting food into tiny pieces or spitting food out after chewing § Weighing food § Cooking elaborate meals for others but refusing to eat them themselves § Repeated weighing of themselves § Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws § Wearing baggy or layered clothing § Complaining about being fat | 