Anorexia Nervosa

Shirley S. Wang & Kelly D. Brownell

First classified in the 1970s, anorexia nervosa (AN) is a commonly recognized eating disorder characterized by both restrictive eating behaviors designed to produce or maintain a very low body weight and intense preoccupation with weight and shape (see Table 1 for complete diagnostic criteria). There are two subtypes of AN: restricting type (those who do not binge and purge) and binge-eating/purging type (those who regularly binge and purge). Binge-eating/purging AN is differentiated from another eating disorder involving binging and purging, bulimia nervosa , by the low body weight and amenorrhea of those with AN. One cannot be dually diagnosed with multiple eating disorders; the AN diagnosis should prevail if diagnostic criteria are met. However, shifting from one type of eating disorder to another (e.g., bulimia nervosa) is not uncommon. Anorexia often develops in early to midadolescence following a successful weight loss attempt that subsequently spirals out of control. It is ...

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