they also watch their
             weight scale religiously and become obsessive with grueling exercise routines." (Nadelson 1999, 12) Being this obsessed with food, weight, and the fear of gaining weight, leaves anorexics very little time to think about anything else. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), state that the word "anorexia" is misused because it means "a loss of appetite" while anorexia victims still have their appetite, but discipline themselves to completely control it. (Nadelson 1999, 18) So not only do they have nothing but food on their mind, they have to fight to keep it off of their mind.
             Anorexia has just recently become a very well-known disease, with over eight million American women suffering from it today. (Smith 1999, 9) Although the first report of it was made three hundred years ago, in the past there was not nearly the pressure to be thin that today's Americans face. In fact, in previous years, being "plump" was found very attractive to the opposite sex. In the 1950-60's, Marilyn Monroe, a very full size sixteen was a "sex-symbol," where as today's are women such as Jennifer Anniston and Cindy Crawford. (Smith 1999, 23) So, not only has anorexia just recently become so common, it is obvious that it is preventable, if only today's society was as accepting as it has been in the past.
             Once one has Anorexia Nervosa, there are four main stages one goes through. The first is the "achievement stage" which is when the victim decides they want to lose weight and begin dieting. Over half of the women in the country are dieting right now. (Nadelson 1999, 17) This is the stage that parts normal dieters from anorexics. Normal
             dieters usually quit before they reach their goal, or reach their goal and then slowly return to their original weight, if not heavier. Anorexics sometimes call themse...