On Healthy Living

Angie, a good friend of mine, had just turned 40. We had been friends since high school, and she was just one of those girls that you’d think did everything perfectly. She was pretty, smart, had a great figure (which the boys always noticed, much to our dismay), and was very fashionable. After a whirlwind courtship and a romantic wedding, she and her lawyer husband left for the States.

Two weeks ago, the old gang found out that she was back in our hometown and we decided to give her a surprise/post birthday dinner party. Expecting to see a radiant balikbayan, we were shocked to see how thin and pale Angie was. This was not the vivacious girl we knew in high school. We acted as if nothing was wrong.

Angie, I later found out, had anorexia. Her job as an editor for a local magazine stressed her out, and her relationship with her husband was becoming strained. Thinking a change would make things work out, she went on a diet and lost five pounds in two weeks. Losing the weight easily made her happy. So, another five was dropped in the next two weeks. Over the next few months, twenty more pounds was lost. She no longer had breakfast or lunch. Instead she jogged. Dinner was just a salad with a low calorie dressing.

Nowadays, we are seeing more and more cases of anorexia and bulimia. Aside from teens, older women are now being affected, mostly from the ages of 30 to 60. So, what usually triggers this disorder? The problem is often brought about by a midlife crisis: a stagnant or stressful career, a failed relationship or a faltering marriage, empty nests and aging. Studies show that if this disorder is treated early through therapy, older women are more likely to respond to treatment compared to teenagers.

Angie has gone back to the States, and I haven’t heard from her yet. I’m praying that she’ll seek help before it’s too late.

honey_g wrote this on July 6th, 2008 and filed it under Healthy Living |