Anorexia

Where does anorexia fit with health and other eating issues?

Gender, social and cultural influences impact everyone, and many people have had, to varying degrees a preoccupation with food and weight throughout their lifetime. Recovery from body image and eating issues is possible for anyone at any stage, and seeking support as early as possible is highly recommended.

At one end of the continuum we have healthy eating and acceptance of body shape and size. At the other end of the continuum is disordered eating, such as anorexia, bulimia and binge/compulsive eating. In between sits fear of fatness, denial of appetite, emotional eating, exaggeration of body size, depression and rigid dieting.

The diagnostic notes below are for your information only. An assessment by a medical practitioner is recommended - as well as regular medical monitoring - as part of a support network and treatment team.

The clinical definitions of eating disorders as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (1994) are used extensively in psychological and medical practice.

Refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight.
i.e. The individual weighing less than eighty five per cent of the weight that is considered normal for her age and height (calculated by the Body Mass Index or B.M.I.)
Intense fear of gaining weight even though underweight.
Distortion of body image.
i.e. self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Amenorrhoea
For women: loss of menstrual periods over three consecutive months.

Restricting type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has not regularly engaged in binge eating or purging behaviour.
Binge eating purging type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in binge eating or purging behaviour.

More information on other specific eating issues

Anorexia

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