Online Anorexia Test

Thank you for taking our anorexia test! Below is a little bit more information about this disorder as well as links to mental health professionals who can help you.

What is Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that involves consuming very small amounts of food and sometimes bingeing and/or purging. Anorexia can quickly become life threatening when a patient becomes starved, malnourished, and dehydrated. According to Wendy Oliver-Pyatt:

Anorexia nervosa, often referred to as simply “anorexia”, is a life-threatening eating disorder. People who suffer from anorexia consume very little amounts of food, which starves the body of essential nutrients. If untreated, those dealing with anorexia nervosa can become dangerously malnourished and thin while still seeing themselves as overweight. In many cases, people with anorexia nervosa must be hospitalized.

Who is Affected by Anorexia?

According to Webmd.com, 9 out of every 10 people with anorexia are female. In total across the United States, about 1% of females between the ages of 10 and 25 develop anorexia. Often, persons whose appearance are important to them, like dancers, actors, models, gymnasts, and similar are especially more vulnerable to developing anorexia. Also, people who tend to be perfectionists are more vulnerable.

Do I have Anorexia? Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa

Starvation isn't the only sign of anorexia. Here are some symptoms common with someone struggling or developing anorexia:

• A person is underweight for their age/gender/height
• A person is dehydrated
• A person's arms and/or legs are swollen
• A female no longer gets periods
• A person's hair is falling out
• A person often feels dizzy or faints
• A person is obsessed with losing weight
• A person's self-esteem is directly tied to their appearance or weight

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), or DSM-5, has been updated to include males who may have anorexia. "Do I have anorexia" should only be answered by a trained professional.

A person must have all of the below DSM criteria to be diagnosed with anorexia nervosa:

• Restriction of food intake leading to weight loss or a failure to gain weight resulting in a "significantly low body weight" of what would be expected for someone's age, sex, and height.
• Fear of becoming fat or gaining weight.
• Have a distorted view of themselves and of their condition (Examples of this might include the person thinking that they are overweight when they are actually underweight, or believing that they will gain weight from eating one single meal. A person with anorexia might also not believe there is a problem with being at a low body weight; these thoughts are known to professionals as "distortions.")

Anorexia Treatment

The first step to anorexia recovery is recognizing that you need help.

If you need help, there is hope! Reach out to a mental health professional that treats anorexia nervosa.

You can learn more about anorexia nervosa treatment here.