| Anorexia nervosa: Overview | 268.000000000000 | Anorexia nervosa: Overview | Anorexia nervosa: Overview | A | English | Psychiatry | Pre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Body | NA | Conditions and diseases | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2016-02-02T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 12.1000000000000 | 40.6000000000000 | 510.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Conditions | Health A-Z | <p>Find out how anorexia nervosa can occur and who is most likely to be affected by it.</p> | <h2>What is anorexia nervosa?</h2><p>Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health condition that involves a distorted body image and under-eating to maintain an unhealthy low weight.</p><p>People with anorexia nervosa try to control their weight at a level below what is healthy for their age and natural body size. They do this by avoiding certain foods, keeping strict controls over their calorie intake, and, sometimes, exercising too much, using pills or making themselves throw up to lose weight (known as purging).</p><p>Because of their distorted body image, people with anorexia nervosa may express that they are too big, regardless of their actual weight, and fear gaining weight and "getting fat".</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health condition that involves having a distorted body image and under-eating to maintain an unhealthy low weight.</li><li>People with anorexia nervosa control their weight by avoiding certain foods, strictly controlling their calorie intake and, sometimes, exercising too much or using pills to lose weight.</li><li>Anorexia nervosa arises from a mix of social factors, stressful life events and genetics.</li><li>Anorexia nervosa usually affects girls aged 13 to 15 years, but in recent years it has started to affect more boys and younger children.</li></ul> | | | <h2>What causes anorexia nervosa?</h2><p>The exact causes of anorexia nervosa are unknown. Generally, anorexia nervosa results from a mix of social factors, stressful life events and genetics.</p><h3>Social factors </h3><p>Taking part in activities that emphasize thinness, such as ballet, gymnastics and modelling, may be a factor in developing anorexia nervosa. Other social factors include pressure to fit in with peers and the media's emphasis on a very narrow range of ideal body types such as being thin or very muscular.</p><h3>Stressful life events </h3><p>A person might develop anorexia nervosa if they do not feel in control over their own life, especially during or after a stressful event. They will try to control their calorie intake to exercise extreme control over their eating and their weight. This is done to regain perceived control when other aspects of their lives feel uncontrollable.</p><h3>Genetics</h3><p>Having a relative who has been diagnosed with an eating disorder may be a risk factor for developing anorexia nervosa. If anorexia nervosa is present, it is also common for there to be a family history of
<a href="/Article?contentid=270&language=English">anxiety disorders</a>.</p><h2>Who is affected by anorexia nervosa?</h2><p>Anorexia nervosa mainly affects teenage girls aged 13 to 15 years, but it can emerge at any age. In recent years, larger numbers of boys and younger children are being seen with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.</p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on anorexia nervosa, please see the following pages:</p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=269&language=English">Anorexia nervosa: Signs and symptoms</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=267&language=English">Anorexia nervosa: Medical complications</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=700&language=English">Anorexia nervosa: Treatment options</a></p><p>
<a href="/Article?contentid=266&language=English">Anorexia nervosa: How to help your child at home</a><br></p><p>Please visit our teen mental health hub for teen-specific resources on
<a href="https://teens.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3785&language=English&hub=mentalhealthAZ#mentalhealth">anorexia nervosa</a>.<br></p><h2>Resources</h2><p>
<a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></p><p>
<a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics –
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<a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Is-Your-Teen-at-Risk-for-Developing-an-Eating-Disorder.aspx" target="_blank">Eating Disorders in Children</a> </em></p><p>
<a href="https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/" target="_blank">BEAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p>
<a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario –
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<a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank">Eating Disorders</a></em></p><p>
<strong></strong><strong></strong><strong>Virtual care services for children: </strong><br></p><p>Boomerang Health was opened by SickKids to provide communities in Ontario with greater access to community-based services for children and adolescents. For more information on virtual care services in Ontario to support eating disorders, visit <a href="http://www.boomeranghealth.com/services/nutrition/">Boomerang Health</a> powered by SickKids.<br></p> | | <img alt="" height="1333" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_nervosa_overview.jpg" width="2000" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_nervosa_overview.jpg | | | | | | | Anorexia nervosa: Overview | | False | | | | | | | | |
