Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms
Extreme weight loss
Irregular heart rate
Severely restricted food intake
Skipping meals or lying about eating
Diagnostic Criteria
Sources
Refusal to maintain body weight or abnormally low weight
Fear of gaining weight
Disturbed by weight, negative perception of body
Absence of at least 3 menstrual cycles not explained by contraceptives, etc.
Statistics
Patients are 75% female, 25% male
.9% of women and .3% of men have had anorexia at some point in their life
41.5% of high school female athletes have reported disordered eating
Risk Factors and Groups
Mental health or substance abuse problems
Athletes in sports that place emphasis on size (ballet, gymnastics, wrestling
Perfectionism
Weight stigma or bullying
Reccommended Treatment
Hospitalization if severe
Psychotherapy and other programs
Support from a dietician