It's interesting to note that as cultures "globalize" anorexia rates begin to increase. For example, anorexia rates in Hong Kong are almost identical to those in the US, but in rural Chinese communities it is nonexistent. While there may be a genetic component to anorexia, people seem to manifest anorexia predominently in societies where food is abundantly available. The self-medicating, powerful emotional response that anoretics experience through food refusal cannot be achieved in a society where people are going hungry for lack of food, in other words. ....

And neither is alcoholism or depression. While people may be more or less genetically prone to getting these conditions, they are all influenced by the person's behavior. Anorexia is a self-chosen behavioral pattern, just like alcoholism. It is a psychological problem which can then alter brain chemistry because of the starvation . . . just like drinking lots of alcohol can turn you into an addict with accompanying changes in brain chemsitry and structure.

There is no mystery as to why younger and younger kids are getting the "disease" of anorexia: it's being constantly glorified in the media. They are taught it's a great way to get attention. Take a look at the cover of Newsweek and you'll see a conventionally-beautiful girl with her wan, pretty face blown up to glamorous size. It's become fashionable to have anorexia, and kids are very sensitive to what will get an adult's attention.

Take some responsibilities for your own actions --- anorexia is a choice, alcoholism is a choice, and depression (while less directly choice-based than the other two) can often be lifted by conscious effort with regular excercise and an improved diet. While people who have these conditions can be helped, it does NOT help to call it a disease. It lets people off the hook too easily.

"...depression (while less directly choice-based than the other two) can often be lifted by conscious effort with regular excercise and an improved diet."

Hallelujia! Finally, THE CURE, after years of failing at therapy. Except...I was doing exactly those things, lots of exercize and eating a good diet, under the care of a doctor with a good reputation, and I got more and more depressed. In fact, the fact that I couldn't lose more than 10 pounds caused me many nights of lying awake, thinking of ways to kill myself and "start over" because I was obviously a failure.

While exercize and diet are a good thing for anyone to do, especially those with depression, it is not the silver bullet. There is no silver bullet.

As for anorexia--I was nearly anorexic myself when I was a teen. I look back now on the photos of me, scrawny and weak. But since everyone around me was telling me I was 'fat' because I have a large butt, I mean I literally heard this every day for years and years, I believed it, and was always on some sort of diet or restriction to try to get rid of the 'fat.'

There are no silver bullets, there are no easy answers.