Anorexia nervosa AO1

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder that is more commonly diagnosed in girls than boys.

Age range

More likely to affect older teenagers (16-17 years old)

Gender expectations

Disproportional gender diagnosis of anorexia nervosa may reflect westernized ideal/unrealistic body images of women in the media.

DSM diagnostic characteristics

1. Restriction of energy intake: The individual over a sustained period takes in less calories than is normal or required, leading to drastic weight loss.

2. Fear of weight gain: The individual has unrealistic and unexplained fears of gaining weight, despite being underweight, leading to behaviors causing them to lose more weight, such has excessive activity levels.

3. Distorted and extreme body image: The individual has a distorted image of themselves and their body. They make judgements about their worth and value based solely on weight appearance. They become fixated that they are obese.

Consequences

Severe weight loss, dietary problems, anxiety, paranoia, and death.

Psychodynamic

When anorexics lose weight, they lose secondary sexual characteristics and become childlike again, as they return to the safety of being a ‘little girl’ again.

Social Learning Theory

Young people, often girls, pay attention to the idealization of ‘thin’ women by the western media.

The media presents ideal weight role models that are observed by individuals who then try to imitate the ideal weight.