What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa – oftentimes simply called anorexia – is a serious medical and mental health condition that can be life-threatening. Anorexia is characterized by an obsessive fear of weight gain and a refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and typically a distorted body image.
Sufferers may restrict caloric intake or purge calories consumed through vomiting (also called purging), laxative/diuretic abuse and/or compulsive exercise.
Anorexia often occurs alongside other mental illnesses, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Obsessive compulsive disorders
- Substance abuse
When any of these co-occurring mental illnesses are present, they can intensify the sufferer’s symptoms and health risks of anorexia.
Anorexia nervosa is the most deadly mental illness, with a higher mortality (death) rate than any other mental illness. Due to the complexity of this condition, anorexia recovery requires comprehensive treatment from an experienced, multidisciplinary treatment team, including medical and psychiatric stabilization, nutritional intervention and psychological support.
Is recovery from anorexia nervosa possible?
The good news is that, with proper treatment, a full and lasting recovery is possible. Eating Recovery Center is the nation’s only vertically integrated healthcare system dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders, like anorexia.
If you think that you or a loved one is suffering, please take our short anorexia self-assessment test or call us at 877-825-8584 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an Eating Recovery Center Masters-level clinician.