Listen to pronunciation. (a-nuh-REK-see-uh) An abnormal loss of the appetite for food. Anorexia can be caused by cancer, AIDS, a mental disorder (i.e., anorexia nervosa), or other diseases.
What is the proper name for anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa, also known as just anorexia, is an eating disorder. This disorder makes you obsess about your weight and food. If you have this problem, you may have a warped body image.
What is the medical term for not eating?
A decreased appetite occurs when you have a reduced desire to eat. It may also be known as a poor appetite or loss of appetite. The medical term for this is anorexia.
What is the root word for anorexia?
Etymology. From the scientific term anorexia nervosa (1957), from the symptom anorexia (“loss of appetite”), from Ancient Greek ἀν- (an-, “without”) + ὄρεξις (órexis, “appetite, desire”), and Latin nervōsa (“nervous”).
What is the main difference between anorexia and anorexia nervosa?
“Anorexia” describes a simple inability or aversion to eating, whether caused by a medical problem or a mental health issue. “Anorexia nervosa,” however, is the name for the clinical eating disorder, the main symptom of which is self-starvation.
Can I have anorexia if I’m not underweight?
But unlike people with anorexia nervosa, those with atypical anorexia aren’t underweight. Their body weight tends to fall within or above the so-called normal range. Over time, people with atypical anorexia can become underweight and meet the criteria for anorexia nervosa.
What is anorexia nervosa synonym?
eating disorder noununhealthy disturbance in eating behavior. anorexia nervosa. bingeing. bulimarexia. bulimia.
How much do anorexics weigh?
A normal BMI for an adult is 18.5-25. Above that you are overweight and below that you are underweight. Adults with anorexia have a BMI below 17.5. If you are under 18 years of age, normal weight is assessed by using special age-related BMI charts.
Is anorexia nervosa a psychiatric disorder?
In conclusion, anorexia nervosa can be considered a mental illness as much as an eating disorder. Through research and accounts of clinicians, anorexia has been found to alter both the body and mind of those are impacted by it.
What is it called when you starve yourself?
Anorexia. If you get an anorexia diagnosis (known as anorexia nervosa), you’re not eating enough food. This means you’re not getting the energy you need to stay healthy.
What is the medical term for weight loss?
Weight loss procedures typically include the term gastric or bariatric. All focus on reducing stomach size, food intake and appetite and can be performed laparoscopically: Gastric Balloon — Nonsurgical and temporary, the procedure places a saline-filled balloon in the stomach.
What is physiologic anorexia?
The physiologic anorexia of aging puts older persons at high risk for developing protein-energy malnutrition when they develop either psychologic or physical disease processes.
What is the combining form for anorexia?
Pronunciation: [key] a combining form meaning “desire,” “appetite,” as specified by the initial element: anorexia.
Why is it called anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia is a term of Greek origin: an- (ἀν-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis (ὄρεξις, “appetite”), translating literally to “a loss of appetite”; the adjective nervosa indicating the functional and non-organic nature of the disorder.
How did anorexia get its name?
The word originates from the Greek language, and means “without appetite.” Initial publications on this eating disorder in 1873 were titled “anorexia hysterica,” but the condition was referred to as “anorexia nervosa” in a significant medical presentation the following year.
Why do anorexics always cold?
The body also drops its core temperature which can make patients feel very cold, especially in their hands and toes; this is aggravated by the decrease in body fat and thus insulation that goes along with malnutrition.
What is secondary anorexia?
Secondary anorexia is one of the main factors responsible for the development of malnutrition, which in turn negatively affects patient morbidity and mortality. Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of secondary anorexia.
Is there more than one type of anorexia?
There are two subtypes of anorexia nervosa: a restrictive subtype and a binge-purge subtype. Restrictive: People with the restrictive subtype of anorexia nervosa severely limit the amount and type of food they consume.
What is the difference between being thin and being anorexic?
A person who is naturally thin might eat less than the average person, but wouldn’t restrict themselves. On the other hand, a person who is anorexic will have severe fears about gaining weight. They would feel that even a small portion of food could lead them to gain weight.
How is someone diagnosed with anorexia?
These exams and tests generally include: Physical exam. This may include measuring your height and weight; checking your vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure and temperature; checking your skin and nails for problems; listening to your heart and lungs; and examining your abdomen. Lab tests.
Is there a genetic component to anorexia?
Although thought of as a psychological problem, the eating disorder anorexia nervosa often runs in families, suggesting that it has a genetic component. Now researchers have found two genes that help determine the risk of acquiring the disease.
What is another word for very skinny?
Some common synonyms of skinny are gaunt, lanky, lank, lean, rawboned, scrawny, and spare. While all these words mean “thin because of an absence of excess flesh,” scrawny and skinny imply an extreme leanness that suggests deficient strength and vitality.
What’s the opposite of anorexia?
Megarexia represents the opposite of anorexia: people who suffer Megarexia perceive themselves as healthy and thin when actually they have an obesity problem.
Why do people have anorexia?
The causes that may contribute to a person developing anorexia nervosa include: Psychological factors, such as a high level of perfectionism or obsessive-compulsive personality traits, feeling limited control in life and low self-esteem, a tendency towards depression and anxiety and a poor reaction to stress.
At what BMI does your period stop?
The greater your BMI (typically in the obesity range over 35), the more likely you are to miss your period. It is even possible to stop bleeding altogether, a condition known as secondary amenorrhea.