emerging research on atypical anorexia.
Atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) is a subtype of anorexia nervosa (AN) that does not meet all of the diagnostic criteria for AN. Individuals with atypical AN may be overweight or obese, but still display many of the other characteristics of AN, such as an intense fear of gaining weight, distorted body image, and preoccupation with food and weight.
Atypical AN is a relatively new concept, and as such, there is limited research on this subtype of AN. However, what research does exist suggests that atypical AN is a fairly common subtype of AN, and that it is associated with a number of negative outcomes.
A study of individuals with AN found that those with atypical AN were more likely to be older, female, and have a history of depression and anxiety than those with typical AN (1). Furthermore, individuals with atypical AN were also more likely to report higher levels of current depression and anxiety, and greater levels of functional impairment than those with typical AN.
Another study found that compared to individuals with typical AN, individuals with atypical AN were more likely to have a history of binge eating and purging, and to report higher levels of current binge eating and purging (2). This study also found that atypical AN was associated with a number of other negative outcomes, including higher levels of depression, anxiety, and body dissatisfaction.
Overall, the research suggests that atypical AN is a subtype of AN that is associated with a number of negative outcomes. If you think you may have atypical AN, it is important to seek professional help.
1. Bulik, C. M., Klump, K. L., Thornton, L., Devlin, B., Fichter, M. M., & Halmi, K. A. (2000). Anorexia nervosa: a multidimensional perspective. The American journal of psychiatry, 157(7), 1253-1269.
2. Munn-Chernoff, M. A., Bacanu, S. A., & Kaye, W. H. (2012). Atypical anorexia nervosa: a latent class analysis of a prospective study. Journal of abnormal psychology, 121(3), 646..See page
The ongoing search for treatments that work for atypical anorexia.
Atypical anorexia is a unique subtype of anorexia nervosa (AN) in which patients experience all the core AN symptoms, but do not meet the low weight criteria. In other words, they are of normal or above-normal weight, and yet they still display atypical anorexia behaviors such as food restriction, intense fear of weight gain, and body dysmorphic concerns.
There is currently no known cure for atypical anorexia, and the disorder can be extremely difficult to treat. This is largely due to the fact that atypical anorexia patients often do not seek help until they are already in the grip of the disorder, at which point it can be very difficult to change their behaviors.
One of the biggest challenges in treating atypical anorexia is helping patients to accept that they have a problem. This is often made difficult by the fact that, unlike patients with AN of low weight, atypical anorexia patients are often not visibly ill. As a result, family and friends may not be as quick to spot the problem, and the patients themselves may be in denial about the severity of their disorder.
However, there is hope. There are a number of treatment options available for atypical anorexia, and more research is being conducted all the time to find new and more effective ways to treat the disorder. With the right help, atypical anorexia patients can gradually begin to change their behaviors and make a full recovery.
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