Eating Disorders: anorexia nervosa

Being underweight is part of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa, but not for other eating disorders. For example, you can be diagnosed as bulimic or having some type of binge eating disorder without being underweight.

Addendum, both the DSM-IV-TR and the ICD-10 (both diagnostic manuals for healthcare providers) require that one be underweight in order to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, however, dangerous eating behaviors, including other behaviors that are considered part of diagnosable eating disorders can occur at any weight.

There are people that are seriously ill with anorexia and are not underweight. It doesn't mention they HAVE to be underweight here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001401/ You could be 400 lbs and lose 200 unhealthily in a short period of time and be at serious risk. You might know someone is suffering and it's not obvious.

They are still anorexic.... just because you hvnt REACHED underweight status doesnt mean one isn't anorexic... (many bulimics arent underweight)

Being underweight is not the deciding criteria. There are many symptoms and other "qualifying" factors to determine if someone has anorexia. If you think you or someone you know may have an eating disorder, visit this site for support, resources, and information.
http://www.somethingfishy.org.
Feel free to send me a private message if you'd like more information on that. :flowerforyou:

What scares me if how many people on here that would fall under that category, encourage it, and/or are happy to be that way...

I always thought that was bull****. So you can only be anorexic once you "look" anorexic? If they would diagnose it earlier and nip it in the bud it would help a lot.

Absolutely not. Being underweight is the a result of anorexia, not a symptom. You can be overweight, but if you display classic symptoms (periods of not eating, etc.) you can be diagnosed with this dangerous ED.

this is false. Underweight is one of the criteria. If someone is displaying symptoms and isn't underweight, they're most likely going to be classified as EDNOS (ED not otherwise specified).

Eating Disorder Diagnostic Criteria from DSM IV-TR
307.1 Anorexia Nervosa
* 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.

That's the first diagnostic criteria.


ETA: for clarification--eating disorders are diagnosed by a lot of factors, but in order to have a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa on your file, you have to be underweight.

Being underweight is necessary for the diagnosis of anorexia, and if you have all the other symptoms of anorexia (restricting intake, disturbed body image, etc) but are still a normal weight it would be diagnosed as EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified).

What scares me if how many people on here that would fall under that category, encourage it, and/or are happy to be that way...

I have come across people who say they are "recovering anorexics" but then have a goal weight of 90-94 lbs. That counts.
However, I do think there is a bit of subjectivity involved for people diagnosing others on the internet.

You can be overweight and still be anorexic. When people start dieting, some cut back TOO TOO TOO much, they might refer to this eating pattern as a "quick fix." What the general population recognizes as anorexic going by physical appearance is what happens after long term anorexic behaviours, but remember, you won't look like that when you start off. And that is how you can have an anorexic obese person.
Helpful tip, people with bulimia and anorexia nervosa tend to crave peanut butter. A normal person would get their craving satisfied in maybe a few tablespoons, but someone with an eating disorder craves it so much they can consume an entire bucket of peanut butter.
Some other helpful warning signs of anorexic/bulimic behaviour in an obese person is the use of laxatives, eating quickly, going to the bathroom right after a meal, lots of water while they eat, if they seem they are 'counting their chews' to name a few.
And please note that if you recognize some signs of an eating disorder in someone, don't tell them to just stop it. It WILL worsen the problem. They need professional help.

You can be overweight and still be anorexic.

I'd like to clarify that you WON'T be diagnosed with anorexia unless your BMI is under 17.5. If you have all the symptoms but are not underweight you will be diagnosed as EDNOS.

Helpful tip, people with bulimia and anorexia nervosa tend to crave peanut butter. A normal person would get their craving satisfied in maybe a few tablespoons, but someone with an eating disorder craves it so much they can consume an entire bucket of peanut butter.

Not necessarily. I've had anorexia and only once the entire time did i crave peanut butter. And if you restrict rather than b/p then i doubt you'd manage even half a bucket of peanut butter.

And please note that if you recognize some signs of an eating disorder in someone, don't tell them to just stop it. It WILL worsen the problem. They need professional help.

Definitely agree with this last one though...