https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anorexia_nervosa
Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as
anorexia,[1]
is an eating disorder
characterized by a low weight, fear of
gaining weight, a strong desire to be thin, and food
restriction.[2]
Many people with anorexia see themselves as overweight even
though they are underweight.[2][3]
If asked they usually deny they have a problem with low
weight.[4]
Often they weigh themselves frequently, eat only small amounts, and
only eat certain foods. Some will exercise excessively, force
themselves to vomit, or use
laxatives to produce
weight loss. Complications may include osteoporosis,
infertility, and
heart damage among others.[2]
Women will often stop having
menstrual periods.[4]
The cause is not known. There appears to be some genetic components
with identical
twins more often affected than non-identical twins.[3]
Cultural factors also appear to play a role with societies that
value thinness having higher rates of disease.[4]
Additionally, it occurs more commonly among those involved in
activities that value thinness such as high level athletics,
modelling,
and dancing.[4][5]
Anorexia often begins following a major life change or stress
inducing event. The diagnosis requires a significantly low weight.
The severity of disease is based on body mass index
(BMI) in adults with mild disease having a BMI of greater than 17,
moderate a BMI of 16 to 17, severe a BMI of 15 to 16, and extreme a
BMI less than 15. In children a BMI
for age percentile of less than the 5th percentile is often
used.[4]
Treatment of anorexia involves restoring a healthy weight,
treating the underlying psychological problems, and addressing
behaviors that promote the problem. While medications do not help
with weight gain, they may be used to help with associated
anxiety or depression.[2]
A number of types of therapy may be useful including an approach
where parents assume responsibility for feeding their child, known
as Maudsley
family therapy and cognitive
behavioral therapy.[2][6]
Sometimes people require admission to hospital to restore
weight.[4]
Evidence for benefit from nasogastric tube feeding; however, is
unclear.[7]
Some people will just have a single episode and recover while
others may have many episodes over years.[4]
Many complications improve or resolve with regaining of
weight.[4]
Globally anorexia is estimated to affect two million people as
of 2013.[8]
It is estimated to occur in 0.9% to 4.3% of women and 0.2% to 0.3%
of men in Western countries at some point in their life.[9]
About 0.4% of young females are affected in a given year and it is
estimated to occur ten times less commonly in males.[9][4]
Rates in most of the developing world are unclear.[4]
Often it begins during the teen years or young
adulthood.[2]
While anorexia became more commonly diagnosed during the 20th
century it is unclear if this was due to an increase in its
frequency or simply better diagnosis.[3]
In 2013 it directly resulted in about 600 deaths globally up from
400 deaths in 1990.[10]
Eating disorders also increase a person's risk of death from a wide
range of other causes including suicide.[2][9]
About 5% of people with anorexia die from complications over a ten
year period.[4]
The term anorexia nervosa was first used in 1873 by William
Gull to describe this condition.[11]