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Clinical features

Authoring team

Possible features include:

  • a body weight more than 15% below the standard weight for a person's height, age and sex or BMI less than 17.5 in adults. In pre-pubertal children, growth and physical development may be affected and puberty delayed (1)
  • an intense desire to be thin
  • amenorrhoea in women
  • restricted carbohydrate and fat intake
    • individuals may become preoccupied with food and enjoy cooking for other people
    • 50% suffer periods of binge eating with the consequent guilt and remorse
    • binges are seen as a loss of control
  • self-induced vomiting in 50%
  • use of laxatives or diuretics in 50%
  • vigorous exercising
  • there may be a lack of sexual interest in females and males with anorexia nervosa
  • the "core psychopathology" consists of a characteristic set of extreme concerns about shape and weight, often believing:
    • that to be valued one must be thin
    • that one must maintain strict control over one's food intake
  • body shape misperception (overestimation of body size)
  • no true "anorexia" (i.e. loss of appetite) except in very extreme cases
  • features that may be largely secondary to starvation e.g. depressed mood, impaired concentration, social withdrawal

Reference:


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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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