Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa*

1. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g. weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected)

2. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat even though underweight

3. Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of the current low body weight

4. Post-menarcheal females, amenorrhea i.e. absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles

Subtype:

Restricting Type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa the person has not regularly engaged in binge eating or purging behavior (i.e. self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas).

Binge Eating/Purging Type: During the current episode of anorexia nervosa the person has regularly engaged in binge eating or purging behavior

*These criteria are established by the American Psychiatric Association and published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.