Anorexia Nervosa Diagnosis
The first thing a professional will consider when assessing for anorexia is an evaluation of the child’s weight relative to the average for her or his age.
When doctors suspect anorexia, they typically perform an extensive battery of physical tests to help assess any related complications.
The criteria for a diagnosis of anorexia listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) are:
- Refusal to maintain a body weight that is at or above the minimum normal weight for your age and height
- Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though the person is underweight
- Denying the seriousness of having a low body weight, or having a distorted image of one’s appearance or shape
- In [females] who’ve started having periods, the absence of a period for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles