Anorexia Nervosa
The disorder is characterized by weight loss and self-starvation resulting in lower weight for one’s height and age. Other than opioid use disorder, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric diagnoses. An individual with anorexia nervosa usually has a body mass index, or BMI, under 18.5 for his or her height.
Dieting behavior in this condition is driven by the fear that one will gain weight or become fat. The behavior of anorexics does not seem to be consistent with them claiming to want to gain weight. As an example, they may only consume a small quantity of low-calorie foods and exercise excessively. There are also those with anorexia nervosa who binge eat or purge intermittently with vomiting or laxative misuse.
Anorexia nervosa has two subtypes:
- Restricting type – In this sub-type, a person loses his weight primarily by fasting, dieting or excessively exercising. People with restricting anorexia nervosa place severe on the type and quantity of food they consume. They usually start counting their calories, restricting certain foods (such as proteins or carbs). They may also start following certain obsessive rules, such as eating foods of certain taste or color.
- Binge eating – People with binge eating types anorexia nervosa also put certain restrictions related to food – but usually accompanied by excessive eating and purging. [3]
Binge eating means consuming a large amount of foods (calories). The affected person then compensates this excessive eating by purging (either through the vomiting or the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics)