Diagnosing and Treating Anorexia Nervosa
Your Guide to Getting Anorexia Diagnosed and Treated
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While there is no simple “anorexia test,” physicians use a combination of physical examinations, screenings, and other tests to diagnose anorexia. In making a diagnosis, doctors look for individuals who maintain a body weight less than 85 percent of their expected weight, exhibit an intense fear of getting fat despite being underweight, and have a distorted self-perception. In women, they also look for those who have missed at least three consecutive periods.
Professionals may differentiate between two subtypes of anorexia: the restricting type, where the individual severely limits food intake, and the binge-eating/purging subtype, in which the individual engages in binge eating followed by induced vomited or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.
If you or someone you know has anorexia, you can always call the National Eating Disorders Association’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-931-2237 or visit it online for free referrals, information, and advice.
There are many, many options for treating anorexia, and with support, someone who is suffering from the disorder can turn their whole world around, starting with the physical distress they’re experiencing. If an anorexic individual has lost so much weight that they are dehydrated, anemic, or in other physical danger, they may need to be hospitalized to recover before the psychological components of the disorder can be addressed.
Once their health is more stable, behavioral therapy, nutritional counseling, and/or family therapy may be advised. Cognitive therapy focuses on educating anorexics about their disorder and coming to terms with distorted beliefs, while behavioral therapy can help anorexics change their eating habits through rewards, reinforcements, and coping mechanisms.
Once immediate physical dangers are dealt with, a healthy weight must be restored. This sounds simple, but for individuals with a powerful psychological fear of weight gain, the process is sometimes very difficult. Nutritional therapy, followed by a choice of many forms of counseling, can help anorexics restore healthy thoughts and eating habits over time. Psychotherapy or “talk therapy” can be done one-on-one with a therapist, psycologist, or psychiatrist, or in a group.
Don’t let fear of therapy or a concern about the stigma attached to seeing a psychologist inhibit you or your loved one from getting the treatment they need and deserve. For people with anorexia, re-gaining weight is not enough to recover: relapse is very likely unless certain thought processes are adapted and dealt with. Psychiatric medication for depression or other elements of the disorder may be prescribed as well.
Those who have been diagnosed early have the best chance of recovery, but if you are concerned about someone you love, it’s never too late to try to get them help.
Here are some resources available to aid in the recovery process of anorexia:
