Hepatic steatosis, or fatty infiltration of the liver, can also occur, and is an indicator of malnutrition in children. The changes could involve the part of the brain that controls appetite, or they could increase the feelings of anxiety and guilt that become associated with eating. These tools and the EAT are culturally based and may not reflect the full spectrum of eating disorders in other cultures. He also indicated that more anorexia nervosa sufferers were found in urban areas. A study found a genetic relationship with mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, obsessive—compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder and depression; and metabolic functioning with a negative correlation with fat mass, type 2 diabetes and leptin. A continual rise in incidence was observed throughout the 55 years of this study.
Reduced white matter integrity in the fornix has also been reported. Often referred to as BMI Body Mass Index is a tool that treatment providers often use to assess the appropriateness of body weight for an individual struggling with an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, and the malnutrition that results, can adversely affect nearly every organ system in the body, increasing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The information contained on or provided through this service is intended for general consumer understanding and education and not as a substitute for medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information provided on the website is presented as is without any warranty of any kind, and expressly excludes any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Fat phobia in anorexia nervosa: Whose obsession is it? For lack of appetite, see Anorexia symptom. There is evidence for biological, psychological, developmental, and sociocultural risk factors, but the exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. There are some reports on the prevalence of anorexia nervosa. The eight genes identified in the research explain only a small fraction of anorexia.