Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that occurs when you limit your food intake or exercise excessively to prevent gaining weight. Limiting food and exercising excessively may result in a lower body weight than what is considered healthy for your age and height. Being underweight can lead to dangerous physical and mental health complications.
UPMC experts provide comprehensive treatment for anorexia and various other types of eating disorders. Our multidisciplinary team will work with you to address both the physical and psychological aspects of eating disorders, promoting recovery, long-term health, and overall well-being.
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What Is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is a type of eating disorder that occurs when you limit your food intake or exercise excessively to prevent gaining weight, resulting in a lower weight than what is considered healthy for your age and height. Being severely underweight can lead to dangerous physical and mental health complications.
What are the types of anorexia nervosa?
There are two types of anorexia nervosa, including:
- Binge eating/purging — Behaviors include binge eating, self-induced vomiting, and the misuse of diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics (water pills) during the current episode of low body weight.
- Restricting — Behaviors include excessive dietary restriction or exercise only.
How common is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia affects between 0.3% and 1% of people in the U.S. It is most common in females and typically begins during the teen years or young adulthood.
What causes anorexia nervosa?
Experts aren’t sure what causes anorexia nervosa, but believe it could be linked to:
- Depression, stress, or anxiety.
- Family history of eating disorders.
- Genes.
- Hormones.
- Social or cultural pressure to be thin.
What are anorexia nervosa risk factors?
You may be at higher risk of developing anorexia if you:
- Are concerned about your weight and body shape.
- Are exposed to significant social or cultural pressure to be thin.
- Have a history of anxiety or eating problems in childhood.
- Have low self-esteem or a negative self-image.
- Tend to be a perfectionist (want to be perfect and follow the rules).
What are anorexia nervosa complications?
If left untreated, anorexia can lead to life-threatening complications, including:
- Abnormal heart rhythms.
- Dehydration.
- Electrolyte imbalances.
- Increased risk of infection.
- Malnutrition.
- Mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts.
- Osteoporosis (weakening of your bones).
- Seizures.
- Thyroid problems.
- Tooth decay.
How can I prevent anorexia nervosa?
You may not be able to prevent anorexia nervosa. However, understanding your risk factors for anorexia nervosa can help you spot signs of abnormal eating patterns early. If you have anxiety, depression, or problems with self-esteem and body image, getting early mental health treatment can reduce your risk of developing anorexia nervosa.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa?
People with anorexia nervosa are preoccupied with their body size and shape, and frequently:
- Check themselves in the mirror for “excess fat.”
- Measure their body parts.
- Weigh themselves.
Anorexia also causes physical and psychiatric symptoms, which may include:
Physical symptoms of anorexia nervosa
- Low body weight.
- Self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
- Skipped menstrual periods (amenorrhea).
Psychiatric symptoms of anorexia nervosa
- Anxiety.
- Denial of the seriousness of the problem.
- Depression.
- Dissatisfaction with body size and shape.
- Fear of gaining weight.
- Irritability.
- Obsession with body image or weight.
- Preoccupation with food.
- Substance use disorder.
When should I see a doctor about my anorexia nervosa symptoms?
If you have symptoms of anorexia nervosa, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. Early treatment can reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.
How Do You Diagnose Anorexia Nervosa?
To diagnose anorexia nervosa, your doctor will ask about your symptoms. They'll also perform a physical exam and ask questions about your mental health.
What to expect during your visit
If your doctor suspects anorexia nervosa, they will:
- Ask about your mental health.
- Ask about your symptoms.
- Perform a physical exam.
- Order blood tests to check for electrolyte imbalances or dehydration.
- Order other tests to check for problems with your heart, organs, or bones.
- Review your health history and medications.
Criteria for diagnosing anorexia nervosa
Your doctor will use specific criteria to diagnose anorexia nervosa, including:
- Refusal or inability to maintain a normal body weight. Guidelines for low body weight are:
- Adults — Weighing less than 85% of ideal body weight or a body mass index (BMI) of 17.5 or lower.
- Children — Weighing less than 85% of the expected body weight for their age and height, or failing to gain weight during a growth period, resulting in a weight of less than 85% of the expected body weight.
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat.
- Body image disturbance.
- Denial of the seriousness of low weight.
- At least three skipped menstrual periods in a row (for females who have begun menstruating).
Anorexia nervosa prognosis
Anorexia can be life-threatening if left untreated and requires long-term treatment and management. However, with psychological counseling, medication, and nutrition support, it is possible to reduce the risk of complications, recover, and prevent recurrence.
How Do You Treat Anorexia Nervosa?
Many people with anorexia don’t believe that they have an eating disorder, which can make successful treatment more challenging. The goals of anorexia nervosa treatment are to restore normal body weight, promote healthy eating habits, and reduce behaviors such as excessive exercise.
Treatment options may include:
Inpatient care for anorexia nervosa
If your body weight is dangerously low or you are having physical or mental health problems related to your anorexia diagnosis, you may need to stay in the hospital until your condition improves.
Psychological counseling for anorexia nervosa
Also known as talk therapy, psychological counseling can help you understand your anorexia and how to manage your condition. Your doctor may recommend individual, family, or group counseling, depending on your needs.
Nutrition counseling for anorexia nervosa
Nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian can teach you how to plan healthy meals and snacks that help you manage your weight while providing your body with the fuel it needs.
Medication to treat anorexia nervosa
If you have anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition that is triggering your anorexia, your doctor may prescribe antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antipsychotic, or mood stabilizing medication.
Why Choose UPMC for Anorexia Nervosa Care?
When you choose UPMC for anorexia nervosa care, you will receive:
- Access to eating disorder expertise — Our eating disorder experts treat the full spectrum of conditions using the latest, evidence-based treatment guidelines and strategies.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer psychiatric care, medication, and nutritional support that allows us to effectively treat all types of eating disorders while reducing your risk of complications.
- Multidisciplinary care — We partner with mental health professionals, registered dietitians, primary care providers, and other medical experts to provide complete care that optimizes your recovery and quality of life.
