Exams and Tests

Medical assessment must include height and weight measurements, vital signs, blood and urine tests, an ECG, and a thorough history and physical exam.

• Criteria used to diagnose anorexia nervosa include the following:
  
  
  • Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (usually weight has dropped to less than 85% of an expected normal weight)
    
    
  • Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight
    
    
  • Disturbance in the way your body weight or shape is experienced; undue influence of body weight or shape on your feeling of self-worth; denying the seriousness of your current low body weight
    
    
  • In menstruating women missing at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles (creates the condition of amenorrhea)

• Diagnosing anorexia nervosa is difficult. A variety of acute and chronic medical and psychiatric conditions can have the same signs and symptoms. A physician must rule out the other illnesses.