Emaciation
Encyclopedia
Emaciation occurs when an organism loses substantial amounts of much needed fat and often muscle tissue, making that organism look extremely thin. The cause of emaciation is a lack of nutrients, starvation
, or disease.
Many women (and some men) have targeted the emaciation look, and such is the result of eating disorder
s such as anorexia nervosa
and bulimia. The shape of the bones in a severely-emaciated person is distinguishable, the shoulder blades are prominently sharp, and the ribs and spine can be clearly seen, while the arms and legs are not significantly wider than the bones that support them. Death may occur.
Although this condition can be acquired by humans deliberately, it is often also the case of many starving animals and peoples across the planet due to lack of food or unsanitary living conditions.
Starvation
Starvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
, or disease.
Many women (and some men) have targeted the emaciation look, and such is the result of eating disorder
Eating disorder
Eating disorders refer to a group of conditions defined by abnormal eating habits that may involve either insufficient or excessive food intake to the detriment of an individual's physical and mental health. Bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are the most common specific...
s such as anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
and bulimia. The shape of the bones in a severely-emaciated person is distinguishable, the shoulder blades are prominently sharp, and the ribs and spine can be clearly seen, while the arms and legs are not significantly wider than the bones that support them. Death may occur.
Although this condition can be acquired by humans deliberately, it is often also the case of many starving animals and peoples across the planet due to lack of food or unsanitary living conditions.
See also
- CachexiaCachexiaCachexia or wasting syndrome is loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not actively trying to lose weight...
- MarasmusMarasmusMarasmus is a form of severe protein-energy malnutrition characterized by energy deficiency.A child with marasmus looks emaciated. Body weight may be reduced to less than 80% of the average weight that corresponds to the height . Marasmus occurrence increases prior to age 1, whereas kwashiorkor...
- KwashiorkorKwashiorkorKwashiorkor is an acute form of childhood protein-energy malnutrition characterized by edema, irritability, anorexia, ulcerating dermatoses, and an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates. The presence of edema caused by poor nutrition defines kwashiorkor...
- StarvationStarvationStarvation is a severe deficiency in caloric energy, nutrient and vitamin intake. It is the most extreme form of malnutrition. In humans, prolonged starvation can cause permanent organ damage and eventually, death...
- UnderweightUnderweightThe term underweight refers to a human who is considered to be under a healthy weight. "Underweight" means weighing less than what is expected to be a healthy person . The definition is usually made with reference to the body mass index . A BMI of under 18.5 is usually referred to as underweight...
- EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...