Anorexia Nervosa

Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence, Apr 06, 2001

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder in which a person's (usually a girl's) distorted body image leads her to believe that she is overweight even when she is dangerously underweight. Anorectics employ a number of weight-loss strategies, including fasting, dieting, exercise, induced vomiting, and laxative abuse. A girl is considered anorexic when her weight drops below 85% of what is expected for her height and age. Anorexia typically affects adolescent girls; the average age of onset is 13.7 years. Girls with anorexia tend to be perfectionists with a deep-seated need to feel in control. Environmental factors may play a role in the development of anorexia. Although not all anorectics' family situations will fit these generalizations, parents of anorectics tend to be rigid and overprotective, and they often avoid open discussion of problems and tensions.

Anorexia, which is technically starvation, has serious physical effects on a growing adolescent's body. These effects include:

The biological effects of anorexia can compound existing psychological problems as well as contribute to new ones. Depression , for example, is a common effect of starvation. As malnutrition depletes a girl's energy stores, her anxiety level may increase because the lethargy she's experiencing makes her feel a loss of control over her body. The anorectic responds to this anxiety by imposing even more stringent restrictions on her diet, which leads to further malnutrition.

Anorexia nervosa is a life-threatening disease and should be taken seriously. If an adolescent girl exhibits any signs of anorexia, a doctor should be alerted without delay. Effective treatment for anorexia incorporates psychotherapy , medical monitoring, and nutrition education. In extreme cases, hospitalization may be necessary.

In many people, abnormal behaviors associated with anorexia (induced vomiting and laxative abuse, for example) will continue in adulthood. More than one quarter of adolescent anorectics will continue to experience anxiety or depression as adults, and one in five will continue to be underweight. Anorexia nervosa has one of the highest suicide rates of any psychiatric disorder.

• Jablow, Martha M. A Parent ' s Guide to Eating Disorders and Obesity . New York: Delta Publishing, 1992.
• Maloney, Michael, and Rachel Kranz. Straight Talk About Eating Disorders . New York: Facts on File, 1991.