ANOREXIA-NERVOSA AND RELIGION

If we believe epidemiological studies, anorexia nervosa is in constant increase. It seems to be a specificity of occidental societies. It is rare in the third world. The question of the socioculturals factors m ay be ask. We propose to study relations between anorexia nervosa and religion: first because we see them in the history of the eating disor ders; secundly because religious subjects seems to be used by some pat ients, more particularly those about alimentary ascetic. We find duali st theory, the ideal of body purity and spirit power, the importance o f physical suffers and notions of sacrifice. Only some studies exist o n this subject. But perhaps this approach by representations may be in teresting to better understand anorexia nervosa.