Anorexia Nervosa Case Study

Anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. This would make sense because overall, ninety-five percent of people who have eating disorders are between the ages of twelve and about twenty-six (ANAD, 2015). Although eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa are typically associated with puberty, a recent study performed at the University of Montreal in Canada suggests that eating disorders can begin as early as elementary school. The researchers warn parents that children between eight and twelve years old who are picky eaters could have underlying psychological troubles. In order to understand the significance of this statistic, one must grasp the meaning of eating disorders. An eating disorder is a persistent disturbance of eating …show more content…
If this study has shown anything, psychologists should study anorexia more. Perhaps the number of children with restrictive eating patterns is not as rare as they once assumed. Physicians can make a significant difference in the success of treating this illness by diagnosing it as early as possible. The study illustrated that children between eight and twelve years old can display the eating behaviors leading to anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. If professionals can reach out to children and teens in schools as well as their parents, more people will recognize that they or someone they care about may have an eating disorder. The earlier the illness is detected, the better the end result. As stated by Halmi, Mitchell, and Rigotti, “the best outcomes occur in cases that are recognized before the patient has lost 15% of her normal body weight and developed the full-blown illness”. By learning more about anorexia and educating society, one can make a difference in providing support for an