Diagnosing Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are divided into several diagnostic categories based on the types of symptoms present. These diagnoses inform the treatment approach used for each disorder and indicate the duration and efficacy of the treatment. Only a medical or mental health professional is qualified to diagnose an eating disorder. Below are the diagnostic criteria for each disorder.
Anorexia nervosa
The presence of one or more of the symptoms below may indicate anorexia nervosa:
Unwillingness to maintain normal body weight, specifically the individual’s body weight, is less than 85% of that expected for the individual given age, height, and frame.
Fear of gaining weight or concern about becoming fat despite being extremely thin
Inconsistencies in the person’s perceived appearance and weight, unable to acknowledge being thin
Undue influence of body weight on a person’s self-worth
Denial of seriousness of current low body weight
The absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles in postmenarcheal women
Bulimia Nervosa
The presence of several of the symptoms below may indicate bulimia nervosa:
Recurrent binge-eating. A binge is defined as eating an amount of food larger than most people would eat in similar circumstances during a discrete period of time.
Binges are characterized by the feeling of being unable to control the amount eaten.
Binges are followed by unhealthy compensatory behavior, including the use of laxatives, inducing vomiting, or over-exercising.
This pattern must be present for an average of two times weekly for a minimum of three months.
Undue influence of body weight on a person’s self-worth
Binge-eating disorder
The presence of the symptoms below may indicate Binge-eating disorder:
Recurrent binge-eating. A binge is defined as eating an amount of food larger than most people would eat in similar circumstances during a discrete period of time.
Binges are characterized by the feeling of being unable to control the amount eaten.
Binges are not followed by unhealthy compensatory behavior such as use of laxatives, inducing vomiting, or over-exercise.