Adolescents with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa with premorbid overweight/obesity: What should we do about their weight loss?. Issue 1 (19th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jhe, Grace B.; Lin, Jessica; Freizinger, Melissa; Richmond, Tracy
• Is Part Of: Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing. Volume 36:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2022-09-19
• Subjects: anorexia nervosa -- atypical anorexia nervosa -- eating disorder -- obesity/overweight; Child psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychiatric nursing -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Child mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; Teenagers -- Mental health -- United States -- Periodicals; 618.92890231
• DOI: 10.1111/jcap.12394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-6077

Abstract

Abstract: Traditionally, anorexia nervosa (AN) was understood to exist exclusively among underweight individuals and weight was used to assess level of severity and course of treatment. Recent trends have found a growing number of individuals presenting with AN or atypical AN (AAN) (i.e., those who remain with weight in a "normal" or "healthy" range despite significant weight loss) have a premorbid history of overweight/obesity. Individuals with AN/AAN and premorbid overweight/obesity represent an especially metabolically vulnerable population as with either AN or AAN, there is marked weight loss. Patients with AAN present a specific challenge as healthcare professionals must identify a clinically significant eating disorder in adolescents of potentially "normal" weights and then must balance their knowledge and training of traditional treatment of AN with obesity treatment and prevention. Currently, there are no evidence‐based treatments to guide medical and mental health professionals regarding weight restoration, medical stabilization, and psychological treatment in patients with AN/AAN with a history of overweight/obesity while also addressing risk prevention for obesity.