Anorexia Nervosa
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Anorexia Nervosa |
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Would you like to know what lab results mean? DDxHub - Differential Diagnosis Hub helps to understand and explains your blood test. |
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All information on this page is intended for your general knowledge only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See Additional Information |
Anorexia nervosa, commonly referred to simply as anorexia, is one type of eating disorder. More importantly, it is also a psychological disorder. Anorexia is a condition that goes beyond concern about obesity or out-of-control dieting. A person with anorexia often initially begins dieting to lose weight. Over time, the weight loss becomes a sign of mastery and control. The drive to become thinner is actually secondary to concerns about control and-or fears relating to one's body. The individual continues the ongoing cycle of restrictive eating, often accompanied by other behaviors such as excessive exercising or the overuse of diet pills to induce loss of appetite, and-or diuretics, laxatives, or enemas in order to reduce body weight, often to a point close to starvation in order to feel a sense of control over his or her body. Patients typically are <85% ideal body weight, have a distorted body image, and engage in restricting-binging behaviors. While more often detected in women, cases in young men may be underrepresented. Weight restoration with refeeding techniques is essential for prevention of sequelae, such as heart failure, fertility problems, and osteoporosis. Patients are often identified through family intervention and the patient's nonspecific complaints. Among psychiatric diagnoses, anorexia remains dangerous with the highest premature mortality of any psychiatric disorder (12%). Early intervention is key in order to prevent long-term psychiatric and physiological complications.
