What is anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia Nervosa is a life threatening condition that can put a serious strain on many of the body's organs and physiological resources.

Mortality rate

It has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric condition: approximately 10% of people diagnosed with the condition eventually die from related factors. Anorexia puts a particular strain on the structure and function of the heart and cardiovascular system, slowing the heart rate.

People with anorexia typically have a disturbed electrolyte balance, particularly low levels of phosphate, which has been linked to heart failure, muscle weakness, immune dysfunction, and ultimately death. Those who develop anorexia before adulthood may suffer stunted growth and subsequent low levels of essential hormones (including sex hormones) and chronically increased cortisol levels.

Anorexia and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis can also develop as a result of anorexia in 38-50% of cases, as poor nutrition leads to the retarded growth of essential bone structure and low bone mineral density. Anorexia does not harm everyone in the same way. For example, evidence suggests that the results of the disease in adolescents may differ from those in adults.

Changes in brain structure and function are early signs of the condition. Enlargement of the ventricles of the brain is thought to be associated with starvation, and is partially reversed when normal weight is regained. Anorexia is also linked to reduced blood flow in the temporal lobes, although since this finding does not correlate with current weight, it is possible that it is a risk trait rather than an effect of starvation.

The Term 'Anorexia'

The term anorexia is of Greek origin: an (privation or lack of) and orexis (appetite) thus meaning a lack of desire to eat. A person who is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa is most commonly referred to as 'anorexic'.

"Anorexia nervosa" is frequently shortened to "anorexia" in both the popular media and scientific literature. This is technically incorrect, as strictly speaking "anorexia" refers to the medical symptom of reduced appetite.

In popular culture, and especially with anorectics themselves, the term is often shortened to "ana" to avoid sounding clinical and impersonal. "Pro-ana" groups often use the terms "ana" and "mia" (referring to bulimia nervosa) to describe their conditions, as it has less negative connotations than the full medical term. Some pro-ana groups discourage or deride the use of colloquial abbreviations.

Prognosis

Anorexia is thought to have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, with approximately 10% of those who are diagnosed with the disorder eventually dying due to related causes. The suicide rate of people with anorexia is also higher than that of the general population and is thought to be the major cause of death for those with the condition. A recent review suggested that less than one-half recover fully, one-third improve, and 20% remain chronically ill.

The majority of research into the incidence and prevalence of anorexia has been done in Western industrialized countries, so results are generally not applicable outside these areas. However, recent of studies on anorexia have suggested an incidence of between 8 and 13 cases per 100,000 persons per year.

These studies also confirm the view that the condition largely affects young adolescent females, with females aged between 15 and 19 making up 40% of all cases. Furthermore, the majority of cases are unlikely to be in contact with mental health services. As a whole, about 90% of people with anorexia will be female.