How can you diagnose anorexia?

Answer 1

Absolutely, without qualification, the first and most important step is an appointment with a physician, and with disclosure that anorexia may be an issue. Eating disorders can be implicated in other very serious physical conditions, including a disruption of or stop to the menses, and blood and heart irregularities. Also, some physical ailments may lead to symptoms that might look like anorexia, and ignoring them could be fatal. Apart from that it is not wise to attempt to self-diagnose (or unprofessionally diagnose for someone else) this or any other disorder. There is much too much at stake.

Answer 2

The following is the diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa provided by the DSM 4e, which is "the manual" used by health professional to diagnose mental disorders. 1. Refusal to maintain body weight over a minimally normal weight for age and height (eg, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during a period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected). 2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. 3. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight. 4. In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, ie, the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles. (A woman is considered to have amenorrhea if her periods occur only following hormone, eg, estrogen, administration.) Specify type: Restricting type: during the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (ie, self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas). Binge-eating/purging type: during the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge-eating or purging behavior (ie, self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas).

Answer 3

There is not an exact test or diagnosis for anorexia. Instead, doctors can base it off of a few things. Most of those are tests. Doctors commonly test for nutrient levels in the body, hair / nail / skin quality (hair tends to fall out, nails become brittle or discolored, skin becomes dry and flaky in many cases of anorexia), bone density, body weight, fat percentage, muslce mass, and organ function. Mental anaysis is often done to figure out the person's metal state, as anorexia is equally a mental disorder as it is a physical one.

Answer 4

Anorexia is diagnosed by doctors. There is no one test that can diagnose it. Instead, doctors take into account medical factors (weight, height, age, stress levels, hormone levels, blood tests, BMI - Body Mass Index -, body fat percentage, ect.) along with mental health exams and reviews and take into account the persons actions and behaviors to come up with the diagnosis.

Answer 5

A diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia will come from a doctor or other trained medical professional. They will do a variety of tests, including checks on weight, organ functions, heart beats, blood pressure, and so on. They might also have a mental exam (with a therapist) to asses an individual's mental state, which is often altered from reality when affected by an eating disorder.

Answer 6

The patient must be evaluated by a professional and be found to meet certain qualifications listed in the DSMIV.

Google "anorexia diagnostic quiz" to find some quizzes to assess whether or not anorexia is present, but they may be inaccurate.

The best thing to do is visit a doctor or psychologist.

Answer 7

There criteria changes every so often, but generally stays along the guidelines of a BMI of less than 17-18, lack of nutrients / malnutrition, weight loss, physical signs (hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails, etc.), loss of a period for more than 3 months for women, and mental indications of the illness.