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Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
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Ency. home > Disease > A > Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Eating disorder; Anorexia

Symptoms

  • weight loss of 15% or greater below the expected weight
  • inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics (water pills) in an effort to lose weight
  • self-imposed food intake restrictions, often hidden
  • absence of menstruation
  • skeletal muscle atrophy
  • loss of fatty tissue
  • low blood pressure
  • dental cavities may be present with self-induced vomiting
  • blotchy or yellow skin
  • depression may be present in addition to the eating disorder
  • most individuals with anorexia nervosa refuse to recognize that they have an eating disorder (denial)

Signs and Tests

Diagnosis is based upon ruling out other causes of endocrine, metabolic, and central nervous system abnormalities to explain the weight loss.

These tests may be used:

This disease may also alter the results of the LH response to GnRH test.

Ency. home > Disease > A > Anorexia nervosa

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