Anorexia nervosa can lead to a variety of severe negative health consequences due to extreme weight loss and starvation. These physical health outcomes include bone loss, heart failure, kidney failure, amenorrhea (the cessation of the menstrual period), reduced function of the gonads, and, in extreme cases, death.

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Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by the maintenance of a body weight that is significantly below average. This is typically achieved through starvation, excessive exercise, or a combination of both methods.

Anorexia Nervosa

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been shown to be effective in treating anorexia nervosa (AN), as patients with the disorder who underwent DBT saw low dropout rates and increased BMIs which were sustained 6 months later. While standard DBT has been shown to be effective, a DBT program that was augmented to focus on overcontrolled emotions and behaviors which contribute to AN was more helpful in encouraging long term results.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy as Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

While there is a long tradition of studying health inequalities between social classes, the standard approach does not apply for anorexia. The intersection of the social relations of age, gender, and social background, with which they are related, accounts sociologically for the disparities in the frequency of EDs.


Anorexia in Social Relationships

Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (DSM-V)

1. The individual restricts their consumption of food such that it is significantly lower than their body's energetic demand, resulting in a dramatic reduction in body weight. This reduction is evaluated in reference to the individual's expected weight, which itself varies according to their age, sex, and developmental trajectory.

2. The extreme fear of gaining weight and/or subcutaneous fat, which prevents weight restoration and/or maintenance of a healthy weight.

3. The distortion of the individual's body-image due to the their perception their body's weight or shape, low sense of self-worth because of their body's weight or shape, or the absence of an acknowledgment that their body weight is lower than what is clinically considered to be healthy.

Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (DSM-V)

Research unfortunately indicates that anorexia nervosa treatment outcomes are not always ideal. Although oftentimes significant weight is restored by the end of treatment, psychological symptoms frequently go largely unaddressed, indicating a gap in current treatment procedures that may leave patients more vulnerable to relapse.

Anorexia Nervosa Treatment Outcomes

A model explaining the intra- and inter-personal maintenance factors for the continued duration of anorexia nervosa, not bound by Western sociocultural limitations. Intrapersonal factors combine to predispose individuals to anorexia nervosa and contribute to its maintenance, eliciting strong reactions from close others which then create interpersonal factors that further perpetuate the illness:

- Perfectionism/cognitive rigidity
- Experiential avoidance
- Pro-anorectic beliefs
- Expressed emotions

Cognitive-Interpersonal Maintenance Model of Anorexia Nervosa

Individuals diagnosed with anorexia nervosa will typically have a distorted body image, which refers to when one feels they look overweight despite not being overweight. Distorted body image is a type of body dysmorphia.

Distorted Body Image

The gut microbiome is a diverse, abundant microbial ecosystem that helps modulate homeostasis via a symbiotic relationship with its host. It has implications in multiple complex diseases by facilitating interactions between genes and the environment, but it is vulnerable to chronic environmental disturbances, such as the dietary fluctuations and nutritional deprivation inherent to anorexia nervosa. It is likely involved in AN pathophysiology by affecting energy metabolism, intestinal permeability, immune function, appetite, and behavior, but complicated by genetic risk factors, eating patterns, etc.. Intestinal bacteria may be involved in appetite and weight regulation along with comorbidities such as mood changes and gastrointestinal symptoms by acting on metabolic, neuroendocrine, and immune pathways.

- Dysbiosis in anorexia nervosa 
- Gut microbiota adaptations to starvation 
- Microbiome-based anorexia nervosa symptom mechanisms 
- Microbiome-based interventions for anorexia nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa and the Gut Microbiome

Individuals with anorexia nervosa face an elevated risk of developing other psychological problems. Commonly co-occurring conditions include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and issues with substance abuse.

Psychological Comorbidities of Anorexia Nervosa

The prevalence of anorexia nervosa is estimated to range from just under 1% to over 4% among women. The rates of this disorder are significantly lower for men.

Prevalence of Anorexia Nervosa

An example of a public health initiative is an Italian advertising campaign that was created to increase public awareness about anorexia nervosa. This campaign was highlighted in a news story to broaden its reach.

Italian Advertising Campaign for Anorexia Nervosa Awareness

A 19-year-old student is brought in for a consultation by her concerned parents. She is 5'7" tall and weighs 98 pounds. Despite her significantly low body weight, she expresses an intense fear of gaining weight and frequently states that she feels 'fat,' often pointing to her stomach and thighs. Her parents report that she eats very small portions, avoids high-calorie foods entirely, and engages in a rigorous two-hour exercise routine every day. Based on this information, which psychological disorder is most likely being described? Justify your answer by identifying at least two key features from the scenario that align with the typical presentation of this disorder.

Clinical Scenario Analysis

Anorexia nervosa is associated with numerous significant negative health outcomes. Physical consequences include bone loss, heart failure, kidney failure, amenorrhea, reduced function of the gonads, and in extreme cases, death. Furthermore, affected individuals face an increased risk for psychological problems, including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse.

Medical Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa

Individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa frequently experience a distorted body image, referred to in the literature as a form of body dysmorphia. This psychological symptom leads them to perceive themselves as overweight, even when they are maintaining a body weight well below average.

Body Dysmorphia in Anorexia Nervosa

Negative Health Outcomes of Anorexia Nervosa

Individuals with anorexia nervosa often experience a distorted body image, viewing themselves as overweight even when they are objectively underweight. This distortion is referenced in psychological literature as a form of body dysmorphia.

Distorted Body Image in Anorexia Nervosa

In addition to physical health issues, anorexia nervosa increases the risk of developing several psychological problems. These include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and substance abuse.

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