AJ
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Serious severity
· Psychiatry
Eating Disorder
Anorexia · Bulimia · Binge eating
Disordered relationship with food and body. Anorexia has the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness — early treatment changes the trajectory.
At a glance
- Prevalence
- Rising among Indian youth
- Typical age
- Teens to 30s
- Outlook
- Treatable
- System
- Mind
Reviewed by a practising psychiatry doctor
What causes it
Causes
- Cultural body ideals, social media
- Genetics
- Perfectionism
- Trauma history
- Restrictive dieting
How it feels
Symptoms & effects
- Extreme weight loss or fluctuation
- Distorted body image
- Bingeing and purging
- Excessive exercise
- Missed periods, bone loss
How it’s treated
Treatment & cure
- Specialist multidisciplinary team
- Family-based therapy in teens
- CBT for bulimia, binge eating
- Nutritional rehabilitation
- Treat depression, anxiety
Staying ahead
Prevention
- Limit diet-culture content
- Talk about feelings, not weight
- Family meals
- Early professional help if signs appear
Do’s
- Seek specialist early
- Avoid weighing daily
- Replace exercise with joy-movement
- Get bone density checked if amenorrhea
Don’ts
- Tell someone they 'look healthier'
- Use weight-loss drugs without supervision
- Praise restrictive eating
- Hide it from family
See a doctor immediately if
Symptoms are sudden or severe, getting worse despite home care, or interfering with sleep, work or daily life. Don’t self-diagnose from the internet — book a verified clinician below.
Top specialists
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Ranked by patient rating, years of experience and review volume. All verified by MediConsult’s clinical team.
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Disclaimer ·
This article is educational and reviewed by clinicians, but it cannot replace an in-person assessment.
Medication doses, prevention advice and treatment choices vary by person. Always confirm with a doctor before acting on anything here.