Medical Complications Occurring in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

March 17, 2000

Published By ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders

Adolescence is a period of psychosocial change that is often perplexing for both teens and their parents. The rapid physical changes that occur at this time lead adolescents to become preoccupied with their body image. Adolescents may become preoccupied with themselves, uncertain about their appearance, compare their bodies with those of other teens, and become increasingly interested in sexual anatomy and physiology.Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that disproportionately affects adolescents and has its origin, at least partially, in this preoccupation with body image.

Read the article in the Western Journal of Medicine.

  1. Brown JM, Harris RH, Mehler PS. Medical Complications Occurring in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa. Western Journal of Medicine 172(3):189-193, 2000.