They were high achievers - while anorexia was destroying their bodies
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- Meg Sexton, diagnosed with anorexia nervosa in her early 20s, appeared high-functioning outwardly but suffered severe physical and mental health consequences due to extreme food restriction and over-exercising.
- Experts explain that "high-functioning" anorexia is often a misnomer, as individuals may mask severe illness by excelling in work or academics, driven by perfectionism and type A personality traits.
- Anorexia nervosa is the deadliest psychiatric illness, with serious physiological effects including organ damage, brain alterations, and a high risk of suicide, often masked by outward appearances of normalcy.
- Recovery is possible through early intervention, therapy, and nutritional support, but denial and delayed treatment can lead to irreversible complications, as illustrated by stories of patients like Lillian.
- The disorder consumes much of the sufferer's mental energy with food-related thoughts, making it biologically difficult to recognize the severity of their condition and underscoring the importance of timely professional help.
