What Is Anorexia Nervosa? - Dr. Berkus (VIDEO)

Dr. Berkus:

This is a psychiatric illness that follows a certain set of criteria. A woman must have lost 15% of her body weight or be less than 15% of normal body weight. She may demonstrate a lack of ability to recognize her current weight as being unhealthy. She has an immense amount of fear and a feeling of loss of control over gaining weight and she will do anything in her power or he, it’s very common in both sexes, to restrict food and also a lot of times will increase their exercise to do whatever they need to do to lose weight.

As a result, women stop menstruating because the body needs nutrition and 17% body fat to continue having periods and so, if they are losing that amount of body weight their body starts to shut down and so, people with anorexia again, may have several physical characteristics. They may grow some fine body here. They may have osteoporosis or changes in bone strength. They may have changes in their body that lead to finally cardiac arrest, and more people die from anorexia than any other mental health problem – 10% of anorexics will die from their disease.

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Tags

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Eating Disorders
• Mental Health
• Healthy Eating