Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa Binge-Eating/Purging Subtype

Core Diagnostic Criteria

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype is characterized by restriction of food intake leading to significantly low body weight, along with binge eating and/or purging behaviors, while maintaining the core features of intense fear of weight gain and body image distortion 1, 2
The diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype includes restriction of food intake leading to significantly lower than expected body weight, intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, and body image distortion 1, 2
Engagement in binge eating and/or purging behaviors is a key feature of the binge-eating/purging subtype 2

Recurrent episodes of binge eating are characterized by consuming a larger amount of food within a discrete time period compared to what most people would eat in similar circumstances, and a sense of lack of control over eating during these episodes 1, 2
Purging behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, periods of starvation, and excessive exercise are common in the binge-eating/purging subtype 1

Unlike bulimia nervosa, individuals with anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype maintain a significantly low body weight 1, 2
Unlike binge eating disorder, compensatory behaviors are present in anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging subtype 1

Young people with anorexia nervosa who have lost large amounts of weight or lost weight too rapidly can develop serious health issues including hypothermia, bradycardia, hypotension, and other serious medical complications 1, 2

Anorexia nervosa has a lifetime prevalence of approximately 0.3% in adolescent females, with a female-to-male ratio of approximately 9:1 1, 2
The peak age of onset for anorexia nervosa is early to mid-adolescence 1, 2

Early identification and treatment are critical as mortality rates for eating disorders are among the highest for any psychiatric disorder 3, 4