mental health disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Introduction
Anorexia nervosa is an Overview of Eating Disorders characterized by a relentless pursuit of thinness, a distorted body image, an extreme fear of obesity, and restriction of food consumption, leading to a significantly low body weight. Anorexia nervosa usually begins during adolescence and is more common in females. People with anorexia nervosa restrict their food intake despite continued weight loss, are preoccupied with thoughts of food, and may deny that they have a problem. Severe or rapid weight loss can have life-threatening consequences. Doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms and do a physical examination and tests to check for adverse effects of excessive weight loss. Treatments that emphasize returning to normal weight and normal eating behaviors (such as individual and family psychotherapy) can help. Anorexia nervosa usually begins during adolescence or young adulthood; it rarely begins before puberty or after age 40. Over their lifetimes, up to 4% of women may develop anorexia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is less common in males. However, mild cases may not be identified. In areas with a genuine food shortage, anorexia nervosa is rare. There aretwo types of anorexia nervosa: Restricting type:People limit how much they eat but do not regularly binge eat or purge—for example, by making themselves vomit (called self-induced vomiting) or taking laxatives. Some exercise excessively. Binge eating/purging type:People restrict their food intake but also regularly binge eat and/or purge. Between one third and one half of people with anorexia nervosa binge eat and/or purge. 