Study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, surveyed 171 patients aged 12-19 years were treated at Hospital eating disorder program Children suffering from 2005-2013 Royal between anorexia nervosa. She found:
Teenagers are Anorexic, not necessarily Underweight
51 of the patients "atypical" with significant psychopathology eating disorders, but not underweight.
Weight loss is great and it is precisely attributed to drastic levels very low pulse rate.
Those with atypical anorexia nervosa is also suffering from low blood pressure and electrolytes blood.
There are no complications that are independently associated with underweight.
There is not a participant in the study was monitored by a health professional to lose weight, their relationship with food, or their methods in losing weight.
Whitelaw said atypical patients might be motivated by family or health professional to lose weight. The suggestion that is often associated with physical appearance, and the ability to wear clothes more trendy, encouraging them to try to lose weight drastically.
Atypical anorexia nervosa patients may have lost about a quarter of their weight, but the body can enter "starvation mode " if only 10 percent of body weight lost rapidly, causing the heart rate slows down to save energy.
"If teens lose weight, no matter how much it weighs, a health professional should monitor them to check whether the weight loss it is appropriate or not. And if so (as), (examination) was done in stages. They must also monitor the adolescent food intake and its relationship with food and exercise for the patient signs lead to eating disorders, "said Whitelaw, " followed a weight loss in bulk, a careful medical assessment also recommended. "
Once a person enters a starvation mode, the only way to increase the heart rate is by taking the food back and seek weight gain, are in this group, it should be treated in the hospital.
Whitelaw said people could understand a very thin patients who need to gain weight, but it is often surprising for individuals and families when someone inside or above the healthy weight range is recommended for added weight.
Contrary to common assumption, the study shows the health consequences of Whitelaw anorexia atypical can be just as dangerous and that it was time to change the current diagnostic criteria which States those who suffer from anorexia nervosa should be less weight.
"What we see now is that you can have a healthy weight but be the same pain with someone with anorexia nervosa is typical, including having the same thoughts about eating and food, " said. "We need to redefine the anorexia due to the increased proportion of atypical anorexia nervosa patients and more difficult to identify. The definition should refer to weight loss, not just low weight. "
Whitelaw added: "typical eating disorders changing due to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Families, teachers, sports coaches, and others who interact with young people should not delay seeking help for teens with an alarming diet if they have lost weight. Even if they aren't underweight. "