Article written by Dr. Sherry Boles
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa is not a lifestyle choice and should not be confused with dieting. Although dieting is common in many cultures and includes restricting calories and exercise, Anorexia Nervosa takes these behaviors to another level and can often lead to death. Furthermore, Anorexia Nervosa includes having an unrealistic perception of the body and those who struggle with Anorexia Nervosa will take extreme measures to become and stay thin.
Is Anorexia and Anorexia Nervosa the same thing?
Anorexia and Anorexia Nervosa are words used interchangeably however, Anorexia when not used in conjunction with Nervosa can mean a medical condition. Medically speaking anorexia is defined as lacking appetite and it can occur due to medical conditions but can also be caused as a side effect of medication. For example, Tramadol, a medication prescribed for chronic pain can have the side effect of anorexia or loss of appetite. Whereas with Anorexia Nervosa appetite is not a side effect or naturally occurring from an illness but rather appetite is ignored and considered something to overcome.
What is an Episode of Anorexia Nervosa?
Anorexia Nervosa, in the early stages, can be deceiving as it can appear that someone has merely decided to go on a diet. However, the key factor to look for is the “why” behind the behavior. If someone is talking about dieting but is also continually reducing their intake of food, excessively exercising, and expressing concerns or actual fear of becoming fat, it is likely this someone has crossed the line from dieting to eating disorder and in this case, Anorexia Nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa Treatment
The diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa include:
- Restriction of energy intake (calories from food) resulting in significant weight loss
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat
- Disturbance in the way a person perceives their body, weight, shape, or size and a persistent disregard for the seriousness of their low body weight
Anorexia Nervosa requires treatment and there are several levels of care that someone with Anorexia Nervosa should access and the sooner the better. These levels of care include:
Inpatient Hospitalization – This level of care includes 24/7 care and is reserved for those people with Anorexia Nervosa who are medically unstable, are severely underweight, and may have other medical challenges as well. They may have stopped eating altogether and require tube or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) feeding. Discharge from Inpatient Hospitalization occurs once the patient is medically stable, is able to eat food, and has a referral for continued care at the next appropriate level of care.
Residential Care – This level of care includes 24/7 care and is for people with Anorexia Nervosa who are medically stable but need more support than they can obtain while living at home while working toward recovery. Residential care facilities specialize in the treatment of eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and the duration of care can be from several weeks to several months.
Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) – This level of care is considered a step-down in care from Inpatient care where the person with Anorexia Nervosa has achieved medical stability but still requires care seven days a week but can safely be home at night.
Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) – This level of care is also considered a step-down in care either from Inpatient, Residential, or PHP for the person with Anorexia Nervosa who needs continued structured care. These programs require usually 2-3 days or 1-5 days of program participation but the person can safely be home the remainder of the time.
Outpatient Treatment – This is the lowest and least intrusive level of care. A person with Anorexia Nervosa can be successful in working toward recovery at this level of care however, a multi-disciplinary team is the standard of care. Meaning that the outpatient psychotherapist works with and coordinates the care of a nutritionist, primary care physician, and psychiatrist, if applicable. If it becomes apparent that the person with Anorexia Nervosa is unable to make progress at this level of care that person should be referred to a higher level of care.
If you or someone you know is suffering with Anorexia Nervosa please get help immediately! The sooner you get into the treatment the shorter the journey to recovery. If you can’t find the help you need please access my resource guide at my Website, www.drsherryboles.com. Please don’t give up hope, people with Anorexia Nervosa find recovery every day and you c
“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” ― Robert Louis Stevenson
