Why do people automatically assume any thin woman is anorexic?

Question

I've seen anorexics. They aren't just thin. They aren't even very thin. They're malnourished, with hair coming out in clumps, bad skin, and so on.

Answer 1

Anorexia manifests itself in many ways. In some people it will be as you mentioned in others, they will be exceptionally thin with no other telltale signs.

I believe that you may have a slight misunderstanding in what anorexia is. You are right that people display the symptoms you have mentioned but that is not a result of the anorexia, but a result of the malnourishment that shadows the anorexia.

Anorexia is really a mental illness and not a physical one. It is a difficult disease and really affects the persons self-image more than the physiological functions of their body. You are right in saying that people should not assume someone who is thin is anorexic, because more likely than not they may not be. But you can not exclude that possibility.

I feel that it is wrong to try and "diagnose" someone because of their appearance. It is wrong that someone should assume that a person has something wrong with them because they do not look "normal". Especially in the case of anorexia, the person involved will probably be having a bad experience and needs all the support one can get. It would be VERY wrong for someone to treat them differently because of what is essentially prejudice.

Answer 2

Mostly jealousy. Anoxeria is a psychological desire to sacrifice overall physical well-being for relative devoid-ness of food/nutrition (even if it does not result in your being thin)...sometimes as a way to punish oneself, not always just self-consciousness.
Basically your best stance is to say it's that way and back it up by making it obvious you're simply fit, not undernourished.

Furthermore, I agree with your perspective (many of your sightings (skin, clumps of hair...) are due to lack of essentially fatty acids in diet) and, in addition, lack of energy, unexplainable bone aches, a habit of eating dressing-less/meatless salads for every meal, and inability to lift as much weight or exercise nearly as hard as average-weight (as opposed to thin) women are some other signs of anoxeria regardless of "thin-ness".

I'd say if any woman calls you anorexic, tell them "well if I was I'd be too emiciated and weak to outlift you...and I'm not...I also eat a normal diet".
And, if they challenge you take them to a gym and outlift them, let them know you, unlike emiciated women (the stereotype of anorexic), have muscle tone...and then go out with them & have girl talk over mexican food say "I stay fit and diet well, but I still indulge now and then it's not a psychological compulsion". That should set them straight. :-)

Answer 3

That is not true actually. I was Anorexic and still looked a reasonable weight, i.e. not emaciated. Anorexia isn't about how much you weigh or how thin you are, it is a mental illness.

HTH : )