Anorexia nervosa (AN)

Anorexia nervosa (AN), also known as simply Anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. It is often coupled with a distorted self image[1][2] which may be maintained by various cognitive biases[3] that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food. The average caloric intake of a person with anorexia nervosa is 600–800 calories per day, but there are extreme cases of complete self-starvation.[4] It is a serious mental illness with a high incidence of comorbidity and the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.[5]

Anorexia most often has its onset in adolescence and is most prevalent among adolescent girls. [6] However, more recently studies are showing that the onset age of anorexia has went from an average of 13 to 17 to 9 to 12. [7] While it can affect men and women of any age, race, and socioeconomic and cultural background,[8][9][10][11][12] Anorexia nervosa occurs in females 10 times more than in males.[13] Recent studies are now showing a connection between homosexuality in the male anorexic community.[14]

The term anorexia nervosa was established in 1873 by Sir William Gull, one of Queen Victoria's personal physicians.[15] The term is of Greek origin: an- (ἀν-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis (ὄρεξις, "appetite"), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat.[16]

Contents [hide]

1 Signs and symptoms

2 Causes

2.1 Biological

2.2 Environmental

2.3 Relationship to autism

3 Diagnosis

3.1 Medical

3.2 Psychological

3.3 Differential diagnoses

4 Treatment

4.1 Dietary

4.2 Medication

4.3 Therapy

4.4 Alternative medicine

5 Prognosis

6 Epidemiology

7 History

8 Research

9 Notable cases

10 See also

11 References

12 Bibliography

13 External links

[edit]Signs and symptoms

A person with anorexia nervosa may exhibit a number of signs and symptoms, some of which are listed below. The type and severity vary in each case and may be present but not readily apparent. Anorexia nervosa and the associated malnutrition that results from self-imposed starvation, can cause severe complications in every major organ system in the body.[17][18][19]

obvious, rapid, dramatic weight loss

lanugo: soft, fine hair grows on face and body[20]

obsession with calories and fat content

preoccupation with food, recipes, or cooking; may cook elaborate dinners for others but not eat themselves[21]

dieting despite being thin or dangerously underweight

fear of gaining weight or becoming overweight

rituals: cuts food into tiny pieces; refuses to eat around others; hides or discards food

purging: uses laxatives, diet pills, ipecac syrup, or water pills; may engage in self-induced vomiting; may run to the bathroom after eating in order to vomit and quickly get rid of the calories[22][23] (see also bulimia nervosa).

may engage in frequent, strenuous exercise[24]

perception: perceives self to be overweight despite being told by others they are too thin

becomes intolerant to cold: frequently complains of being cold due to loss of insulating body fat or poor circulation due to extremely low blood pressure; body temperature lowers (hypothermia) in effort to conserve energy[25]

depression: may frequently be in a sad, lethargic state[26]

solitude: may avoid friends and family; becomes withdrawn and secretive

clothing: some may wear baggy, loose-fitting clothes to cover weight loss if they have been confronted about their health

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