Did anorexia exist before the 1970's?

Question

I first started hearing of this madness in the late 1970's. I can find no reference to it before then unless we consider religious fasting as a manifestation of neurosa anorectica.

Answer 1

Anorexia--which is just defined as "loss of appetite"--has been around for centuries. This may be a symptom of some physical or mental illnesses. Deliberate fasting may also be a manifestation of ascetism and the rejection of the physical/material world connected to religion. This is generally considered to be a different thing, particularly if done within healthy guidelines.

The eating disorder called Anorexia *nervosa*, however, was first noted as a disorder common in young women due to social pressures and restraints during the Victorian era in the late 1800's.

Anorexia nervosa was not included in the DSM-IV, the medical guidebook for diagnosing mental health disorders, until the third edition in 1980, however.

Answer 2

Anorexia Nervosa has been around longer than the 1970s. That is probably when the mental health professionals started to diagnose it and keep records. Many athletes have been involved in this including gymnasts, skaters, long-distance runners, and jockeys. It is not just a female disorder. Many men have this disorder as well. Jockeys used to have a huge trough in their locker room that they would throw up into before being weighed for a race.

Answer 3

When I was in high school, 1964-67, there was a person in my class with anorexia. He was being treated by a local physician.. I always felt badly for this person because he was teased, no taunted, daily by many in the school who had no idea what he was going through. Partly due to this he was eventually sent to a clinic in Conn. where they were having great success in understanding and treatment of this disease. Today, he has overcome this disease and visits high schools to tell about his experiences.

It was not a new disease then but it seemed like it was for many reasons. One being that it fell under the umbrella of mental health and therefore, carried a stigma that kept many people from openly discussing it. Unfortunately, many people did suffer from it then as they do now .

Answer 4

Oh yes!! Make no mistake about it. Women use to have their ribs removed to appear more slender. An the corset?? wear something that tight all day and see if you can consume much food. Dear, women and men have been dealing with this dis-order since the dawn of man!! History repeats itself...and eating- disorders are nothing new!! Consult an historian...you'd be surprised who in man's history have had this very eating dis-order....

Answer 5

Anorexia has always been around it just is not something that was talked about or heard of so to speak before the 70's.

Answer 6

Don't recall any in the 50's and 60's, lost a wonderful person in the 80's

Answer 7

Yeah it has been around since the beginning of relationships when someone said someone else was fat. They were just called pukers; before some idiot decided to give it a fancy name.

Answer 8

It existed, but it didn't have a name. The sufferers were usually diagnosed with other problems and treatment was hit and miss.

Answer 9

It existed but was not officially considered a diagnosis medically until then.

Answer 10

yes it existed, the name is new, the problem is ancient.