Anorexia—Adult(Anorexia Nervosa—Adult)
by
Michael Jubinville, MPH DefinitionAnorexia is an eating disorder. A person is obsessed with losing more weight than needed. Losing weight may involve exercising too much, taking laxatives or diuretics, or inducing vomiting. Causes TOPThe cause of anorexia is not known. It appears to be a mix of your genes, way of life, and environment. Risk Factors TOPAnorexia is more common in young women. Your risk is also higher for:
Symptoms TOPAnorexia may cause:
Anorexia often leads to:
Diagnosis TOPYou will be asked about your symptoms and health history. Your answers and a physical exam may point to anorexia. You may also have:
Treatment TOPThe goal is to return to and keep a healthy weight. A healthy weight is above 85% of your ideal weight. The intake of calories is slowly added to. For serious anorexia, care may start in a hospital. This can be done with: Nutritional ConsultationYou will learn how to eat a healthful diet. You will also learn what your healthy weight and calorie goals are. CounselingThis can help address harmful thought patterns, help you gain weight, and make you feel better about yourself. There are many different types of therapy. You may need more than one type:
Medicines TOPMedicines will depend on other problems you may have. The most common are:
Prevention TOPThere is no way to prevent anorexia since the cause is unknown. RESOURCES:National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders http://www.anad.org NEDA—National Eating Disorders Association https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Canadian Mental Health Association https://cmha.ca National Eating Disorder Information Center http://www.nedic.ca References:
Anorexia nervosa. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:
http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T114614/Anorexia-nervosa
. Updated June 15, 2017. Accessed August 31, 2018.
Anorexia nervosa.
Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at:
https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa. Updated March 2018. Accessed August 31, 2018. Anorexia nervosa.
Office on Women's Health website. Available at:
https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa. Updated August 28, 2018. Accessed August 31, 2018. Casper RC. How useful are pharmacological treatments in eating disorders?
Psychopharmacol Bull. 2002;36(2):88-104. Last reviewed May 2018 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Adrian Preda, MD Last Updated: 8/31/2018 |
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