Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves an inability to stay at the minimum body weight considered healthy for the person's age and height.
Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may use extreme dieting, excessive exercise, or other methods to lose weight.
See also:
Alternative NamesEating disorder - anorexia
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe exact causes of anorexia nervosa are unknown. Many factors probably are involved. Genetics and hormones may play a role. Social attitudes that promote unrealistically thin body types may also contribute.
More and more evidence points away from the idea that conflicts within a family may contribute to this or other eating disorders. Most mental health organizations no longer support this theory.
Risk factors include:
Anorexia usually begins in adolescence or young adulthood. It is more common in females, but may also be seen in males. The disorder is seen mainly in Caucasian women who are high academic achievers and who have a goal-oriented family or personality.
SymptomsTo be diagnosed with anorexia, a person must:
People with anorexia may severely limit the amount of food they eat, or eat and then make themselves throw up. Other behaviors include:
Other symptoms of anorexia may include:
Other causes of weight loss or muscle wasting must be ruled out with medical testing. Examples of other conditions that can cause these symptoms include:
Tests should be done to help determine the cause of weight loss, or what damage the weight loss has caused. Many of these tests will be repeated over time to monitor the patient. These tests may include:
The biggest challenge in treating anorexia nervosa is having the person recognize that they have an illness. Most persons with anorexia nervosa deny that they have an eating disorder. Individuals often enter treatment only once their condition is fairly advanced.
The goals of treatment are to first restore normal body weight and eating habits. A weight gain of 1 - 3 pounds per week is considered a safe goal.
A number of different programs have been designed to treat anorexia. Sometimes weight gain is achieved using schedules for eating, decreased physical activity, and increased social activity, either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Many patients start with a short hospital stay and continue to follow-up with a day treatment program.
Care providers who are usually involved in these programs include nurse practitioners, physicians, a nutritionist or dietitian, and mental health care providers.
Treatment is often very challenging, and it requires hard work by patients and their families. Many therapies are likely to be tried until the patient succeeds in overcoming this disorder.
Patients may drop out of programs if they have unrealistic expectations of being "cured" with therapy alone.
Although a short hospital stay is a common way to start treatment, a longer hospital stay may be needed if:
Different kinds of talk therapy are used to treat people with anorexia:
Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers may help some anorexic patients when given as part of a complete treatment program. Examples include: olanzapine (Zyprexa, Zydis), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and antidepressants. These medicines can help treat depression or anxiety.
Although these drugs may help, no medication has been proven to decrease the desire to lose weight.
Support GroupsSee: Eating disorders - support group
Expectations (prognosis)Anorexia nervosa is a serious and potentially deadly medical condition. By some estimates, it leads to death in 10% of cases. Experienced treatment programs have a good success rate in restoring normal weight, but it is common for the disease to return.
Women who develop this eating disorder at an early age have a better chance of complete recovery. However, most people with anorexia will continue to prefer a lower body weight and be preoccupied with food and calories to some extent. Weight management may be difficult, and long-term treatment may be necessary to help maintain a healthy weight.
ComplicationsComplications can be severe. A hospital stay may be needed.
Complications may include:
Talk to your doctor if a loved one is:
Getting early medical help can reduce the severity of an eating disorder.
PreventionIn some cases, prevention may not be possible. Encouraging healthy, realistic attitudes toward weight and diet may be helpful. Sometimes, talk therapy can help.
ReferencesAttia E, Walsh BT. Beahvioral management for anorexia nervosa. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:500-506.
Gowers SG. Management of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93:331-334.
American Psychiatric Association. Treatment of patients with eating disorders, third edition. American Psychiatric Association. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163(7 Suppl):4-54.
Bulik CM, Berkman ND, Brownley KA, Sedway JA, Lohr KN. Anorexia nervosa treatment: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Eat Disord. 2007;40(4):310-320.
le Grange D, Lock J, Loeb K, Nicholls D. Academy for eating disorders position paper: The role of the family in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2009;43:1-5.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that makes people lose more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height.
Persons with this disorder may have an intense fear of weight gain, even when they are underweight. They may diet or exercise too much, or use other methods to lose weight.
See also:Bulimia
Alternative NamesEating disorder - anorexia
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe exact causes of anorexia nervosa are unknown. Many factors probably are involved. Genes and hormones may play a role. Social attitudes promoting very thin body types may also be involved.
Family conflicts are no longer thought to contribute to this or other eating disorders.
Risk factors for anorexia include:
Anorexia usually begins during the teen years or young adulthood. It is more common in females, but may also be seen in males. The disorder is seen mainly in white women who are high academic achievers and who have a goal-oriented family or personality.
SymptomsTo be diagnosed with anorexia, a person must:
People with anorexia may severely limit the amount of food they eat, or eat and then make themselves throw up. Other behaviors include:
Other symptoms of anorexia may include:
Other causes of weight loss or muscle wasting must be ruled out with medical testing. Examples of other conditions that can cause these symptoms include:
Tests should be done to help find the cause of weight loss, or see what damage the weight loss has caused. Many of these tests will be repeated over time to monitor the patient.
These tests may include:
The biggest challenge in treating anorexia nervosa is making the person recognize that they have an illness. Most persons with anorexia nervosa deny that they have an eating disorder. People often enter treatment only once their condition is serious.
The goals of treatment are to restore normal body weight and eating habits. A weight gain of 1 - 3 pounds per week is considered a safe goal.
A number of different programs have been designed to treat anorexia. Sometimes the person can gain weight by:
Many patients start with a short hospital stay and continue to follow-up with a day treatment program.
A longer hospital stay may be needed if:
Care providers who are usually involved in these programs include:
Treatment is often very difficult, and patients and their families must work hard. Many therapies may be tried until the patient overcomes this disorder.
Patients may drop out of programs if they have unrealistic hopes of being "cured" with therapy alone.
Different kinds of talk therapy are used to treat people with anorexia:
Medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers may help some anorexic patients when given as part of a complete treatment program. Examples include:
These medicines can help treat depression or anxiety.
Although these drugs may help, no medication has been proven to decrease the desire to lose weight.
Support GroupsSee: Eating disorders - support group
Expectations (prognosis)Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition that can be deadly. By some estimates, it leads to death in 10% of cases. Experienced treatment programs can help people with the condition return to a normal weight, but it is common for the disease to return.
Women who develop this eating disorder at an early age have a better chance of recovering completely. However, most people with anorexia will continue to prefer a lower body weight and be very focused on food and calories.
Weight management may be hard. Long-term treatment may be needed to stay at a healthy weight.
ComplicationsComplications can be severe. A hospital stay may be needed.
Complications may include:
Talk to your doctor if a loved one is:
Getting medical help right away can make an eating disorder less severe.
PreventionIn some cases, prevention may not be possible. Encouraging healthy, realistic attitudes toward weight and diet may be helpful. Sometimes, talk therapy can help.
ReferencesTreasure J, Claudino AM, Zucker N. Eating disorders. Lancet. 2010; 375(7914):583-593.
Attia E, Walsh BT. Behavioral management for anorexia nervosa. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:500-506.
Gowers SG. Management of eating disorders in children and adolescents. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93:331-334.
American Psychiatric Association. Treatment of patients with eating disorders, third edition. American Psychiatric Association. Am J Psychiatry. 2006;163(7 Suppl):4-54.
le Grange D, Lock J, Loeb K, Nicholls D. Academy for eating disorders position paper: The role of the family in eating disorders. Int J Eat Disord. 2009;43:1-5.
Fisher Ca, Hetrick SE, Rushford N. Family therapy for anorexia nervosa. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Apr 14; (4):CD004780.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 04/18/2011
Fred K. Berger, MD, Addiction and Forensic Psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
The scientific name for anorexia nervosa is Anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia is the correct spelling.
It is just a shorter version of the full name. Anorexia is short for Anorexia Nervosa. Therefore, Anorexia Nervosa is commonly referred to as Anorexia. (As is Bulimia. Bulimia is short for Bulimia Nervosa.)
Walter Vandereycken has written: 'Anorexia nervosa' -- subject(s): Anorexia nervosa, Therapy, Anorexia Nervosa
I do not think it can be associated with anorexia nervosa, but I think it can be related with bulimia nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa - band - was created in 1995.
Anorexia Nervosa - band - ended in 2005.
The term nervosa in anorexia nervosa refers to a state of nervousness or loss of appetite leading to an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight and distorted body image, leading to restricted food intake and excessive weight loss.
Exile - Anorexia Nervosa album - was created in 1997.
There is none.
Unfortunately, many people have died from Anorexia Nervosa. A famous singer, Karen Carpenter, with a voice like an angel, died from the effects and complications of Anorexia Nervosa.
Their is not a difference between the two things. Anorexia Nervosa is the name of the actual eating disorder. The other eating disorder is Bulimia Nervosa, and it is different from Anorexia Nervosa.