Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight.

According to the DSM-5, a person must meet all of the current criteria to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa:

  • Restriction of food intake leading to weight loss  
  • Fear of becoming fat or gaining weight.
  • Have a distorted view of themselves and of their condition, they could think that they are overweight even though they are actually underweight.  

Physical symptoms:

  • Extreme weight loss  
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia  
  • Dizziness or fainting  
  • Absence of menstruation  
  • Dry or yellowish skin  
  • Dehydration  
  • Eroded teeth and calluses on the knuckles from induced vomiting

Emotional and behavioral symptoms:

  • Severely restricting food intake through dieting or fasting
  • Exercising excessively  
  • Bingeing and self-induced vomiting to get rid of food.  
  • Preoccupation with food
  • Frequently skipping meals or refusing to eat  
  • Denial of hunger or making excuses for not eating  
  • Lying about how much food has been eating  
  • Extreme fear of gaining weight
  • Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws
  • Excessively weighing or measuring the body  

Symptoms

Prevalence

Anorexia nervosa is more prevalent amongst women. Among the women, the lifetime prevalence of DSM-5 anorexia nervosa was 1.7%. There is a myth regarding anorexia because it is so well-known, people assume that it is a common disorder, however, less than 2% of the population has true anorexia.

Prognosis

-Anorexia gets worse the longer it is left untreated. -It can be treated, allowing the person to restore healthy weight. The risk of relapse is high. -Recovery from anorexia requires long-term treatment and commitment. -Support from family and friends can help ensure recovery.

When to seek help

People with anorexia usually do not think there is anything wrong and they do not want treatment. If you are experiencing any of the problems listed above or if you think you may have an eating disorder, get help.

Treatment

  • Hospitalization: might be needed to treat severe weight loss that has resulted in malnutrition and other health complications
  • Restoring a healthy weight
  • Psychotherapy: to develop healthy attitudes toward food and weight.
  • Medications: antidepressant medications might be used to help control anxiety and depression associated with an eating disorder.
  • Nutrition counseling: to teach a healthy approach to food and weight and restore normal eating patterns.
  • Group and/or family therapy: family support is very important to treatment success.