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How Can Anorexia Nervosa Be Treated?
I fear I have anorexia nervosa. I ve done research on it and I ve shown many of the same symtoms mentions. I feel powerful when I skip meals, in control. I don t want to stop, I want to feel powerful, I want to skip meals and I want to continue to lose weight. I m currently weighing in as 112, and I m 16 years old. I love the feeling of being thin. I feel like I ve caught it early, but I want to know for sure, without telling my parents. Without letting anyone know, in fear of them making me stop. Because I don t want to.
Tue, 5 Aug 2014
Hello and welcome to Healthcare Magic. Thanks for your query.
I understand that you are worried about the possibility of you having anorexia nervosa. Its good that you have been able to realize that your eating and weight losing patterns are not normal.
Now, there are clinical criteria by which anorexia nervosa is diagnosed. The DSM criteria for diagnosis of anorexia nervosa are:
1) Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height, for example, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected.
2) Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
3) Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
4) In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. A woman having periods only while on hormone medication (e.g. estrogen) still qualifies as having amenorrhea.
You seem to be having a fulfilling a few criteria, but to confirm the diagnosis, you need a proper physical and psychological evaluation. So, I would suggest that you see a psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation and further help.
Wish you all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
I understand that you are worried about the possibility of you having anorexia nervosa. Its good that you have been able to realize that your eating and weight losing patterns are not normal.
Now, there are clinical criteria by which anorexia nervosa is diagnosed. The DSM criteria for diagnosis of anorexia nervosa are:
1) Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height, for example, weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected.
2) Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight.
3) Disturbance in the way one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
4) In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea, i.e., the absence of at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. A woman having periods only while on hormone medication (e.g. estrogen) still qualifies as having amenorrhea.
You seem to be having a fulfilling a few criteria, but to confirm the diagnosis, you need a proper physical and psychological evaluation. So, I would suggest that you see a psychiatrist for a detailed evaluation and further help.
Wish you all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
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