Is Anorexia really a disease?

[blutoski]

I'm sure I can make a website about how to get the flu. Does that make it NOT a disease, now ? Or did I misinterpret what you meant ?

And I think that's the heart of the matter. My sister doesn't consider chicken pox to be a 'disease'. She feels it's a natural process that children go through. It's a philosophical argument, and not a technical question anymore.

This doesn't affect what conventional medicine classifies as a disorder or disease much, although a widespread cultural shift may influence the DSM in minor ways.

 

[blutoski]

I just don't think it's a disorder until it's dangerous, and the kind of anorexic behavior I'm talking about is not dangerous. It goes without saying that some anorexics have an eating disorder that is deadly if they don't get treatment for it. My point is that it muddies the water when it comes to understanding this issue and it can make people think the whole phenomena is a lifestyle choice, when that's obviously not the case.

That's the diagnostic critieria, though: it's not a disorder unless it negatively impacts the patient. Either socially (did the weight loss cost a job or friends?) or medically (is the uterus or heart damaged beyond repair?).

If the patient is diagnosed, then they came across the system at some point (ambulance?). That's a tip that it's impacting their life in a negative way.