Believed to affect one in 100 adolescent girls and young women in the U.S., anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that leads to extreme, potentially fatal weight loss. Commonly referred to as self-starvation, anorexia nervosa has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition.

While anorexia nervosa occurs most frequently in teenage girls and young women -- more than 90 percent of sufferers belong to this group -- it is increasingly being seen in males and females of all ages.

Among Americans ages 15-24, some 86 deaths in 100,000 are attributed to anorexia nervosa -- approximately five times more than statistically expected for people in that age group. This is because the disorder prevents the body from getting the fuel it needs to perform normally, and vital functions slow in a bid to conserve energy.

Serious medical complications that can occur as a result of anorexia nervosa include:

• Slowed heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Loss of bone and muscle mass
• Cessation of a menstrual cycle and/or infertility in post-pubescent females
• Dehydration
• Fainting and/or lightheadedness

And because anorexics often suffer from severe depression in conjunction with and/or as a result of their disorder, the suicide rate among this group is 32 times higher that of the general population.

Learn more about the anorexia nervosa services we offer. To schedule an appointment or get a referral, call 919-668-7301 locally or 888-ASK-DUKE (888-275-3853) toll-free.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Jiang, Wei
• Looney, John G.
• Merwin, Rhonda M.
• Sangvai, Devdutta G.
• Spratt, Susan E.
• Staples, Betty B.
• Story, Lisa B.
• Trost, Melanie K.
• Weisberg, Laura J.
• Zucker, Nancy L.

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Eating Disorders
  718 Rutherford Street, Durham, NC 27705