Atypical Anorexia - What It Is and What Its Potential Impact Can Be
Olivia Davis
2026-03-21
8 min. read
1 / 1
8
views
1 zdjęcie
Anorexia (also known as mental eating disorder) is a serious and one of the most dangerous eating disorders. It is characterized by a significant restriction in food intake, a distorted image of one's body shape, and a fear of gaining weight. The ICD-11 classification identifies a number of symptoms that must occur in order to diagnose the disease. One of them is a BMI of less than 18.5 kg/m2. However, it also appears that people with normal body weight and those who are obese also experience complications similar to those that occur in anorexia. This phenomenon is so prevalent that it has been termed atypical anorexia and is also classified as an eating disorder.
Characteristics of an individual with atypical anorexia
Individuals with atypical anorexia meet all the diagnostic criteria for eating disorders, except for a high BMI. They are characterized by excessive focus on appearance, fear of obesity, dysmorphophobia, and significant weight loss in a short period of time. They often experience low self-esteem, chronic fatigue, problems with concentration, menstrual impairment, depression and negative mood, and even suicidal thoughts. Symptoms that should cause concern include missing meals, eating alone, excessive nervousness, or frequent weighing. Atypical anorexia can be just as dangerous as the classic form of the disease, sometimes even more so, due to difficulties in recognizing it and the belief of those affected that they are not sick enough to start treatment.
You have started reading a PRO article
You can preview the first chapter. To read the complete article and unlock all content, upgrade to a PRO account.
Tags
