World's thinnest woman warns against anorexia as she reveals girls idolise her look

19^thDecember, 2012, London - Valeria Levitin is 5ft 8in and weighs just 4st 3lbs - less than half of what she should weigh at the very lightest - after years of extreme dieting.

Valeria weighs just 4st after years of extreme dieting

 The thinnest woman in the world is using her emaciated figure to warn of the horrors of anorexia after revealing she gets FAN MAIL from girls hoping to copy her look.

Valeria Levitin weighs just 4st 3lbs - less than half of what she should weigh at the very lightest - after years of extreme dieting. 

At 5ft 8in, the 39-year-old should weigh between 9st and 12st to fit into the NHS guided 'healthy' weight range.

Valeria to warn others of the dangers of anorexia

Healthy Valeria before the disease took hold, aged 19

Valeria has battled the illness since her early twenties and says she is desperate to get better and warn others of the dangers of anorexia. She told the Sun: "I have received emails from young girls who want me to teach them how to be like me.

"All the letters I’ve had are from women, mainly in their twenties, who see me as some kind of inspiration." Valeria, who is originally from Russia but now lives in Monaco, hopes to recover to fulfil her dream of becoming a mother.

Who is at risk for anorexia nervosa?

Approximately 95% of those affected by anorexia are female, most often teenage girls, but males can develop the disorder as well. While anorexia typically begins to manifest itself during early adolescence, it is also seen in young children and adults. In the U.S. and other countries with high economic status, it is estimated that about one out of every 100 adolescent girls has the disorder. Caucasians are more often affected than people of other racial backgrounds, and anorexia is more common in middle and upper socioeconomic groups. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), other statistics about this disorder include the fact that an estimated 0.5% - 3.7% of women will suffer from this disorder at some point in their lives. About 0.3% of men are thought to develop anorexia in their lifetimes.

What is the treatment for anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia may be treated in an outpatient setting, or hospitalization may be necessary. For an individual with severe weight loss that has impaired organ function, hospital treatment must initially focus on correction of malnutrition, and intravenous feeding or tube feeding that goes past the mouth may be required. A gain of between 1 to 3 pounds per week is a safe and attainable goal when malnutrition must be corrected. Sometimes weight gian achieved using schedules for eating, decreased physical activity, and increased social activity, either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. For individuals who have suffered from anorexia for several years, the goals of treatment may need to be achieved more slowly in order to prevent the anorexia sufferer from relapsing as a result of being overwhelmed by treatment.

The overall treatment of anorexia, however, must focus on more than weight gain. There are a variety of treatment approaches dependent upon the resources available to the individual. Because of increasing insurance restrictions, many patients find that a short hospitalization followed by participation in a day treatment program is an effective alternative to longer inpatient programs. Most individuals, however, initially seek outpatient treatment involving psychological as well as medical intervention. It is common to engage a multidisciplinary treatment team consisting of a medical care professional, a dietician or nutritionist, and a mental health care professional.

Any appropriate treatment approach addresses underlying issues of control, perfectionism, and self-perception. Family dynamics are explored. Nutritional education provides a healthy alternative to weight management for  the patient. Group counseling or support groups may assist the individual in the recovery process. The ultimate goal of treatment should be for the individual to accept herself/himself and lead a physically and emotionally healthy life.

While no medications have been identified that can definitively reduce the compulsion to starve oneself, olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zydis), risperisone (Risperdal), and quetiapine (Seroquel) are medications that are also used as mood stabilizers and to treat schizophrenia that may be useful in treating anorexia. These medications may also help increase weight and to manage some of the emotional symptoms like anxiety and depression that can accompany anorexia. Some of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs, like fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro), have been shown to be helpful in weight maintenance after weight has been gained, as well as having beneficial effects on the mood and anxiety symptoms that may be associated with the condition.

source : www.mirror.co.uk/news

               www.medicinenet.com/anorexia_nervosa

               www.nlm.nih.gov / www.helpguide.org