Anorexia Nervosa

The Endocrine Manifestations of Anorexia Nervosa

“…However, similar to PCM, both basal GH levels as well as the GH response to provocative stimuli are often abnormal in AN (1,25,49,54,(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70). This appears to be due to the heterogeneity of the patients studied, with respect to the magnitude of their nutritional deficiency and weight deficits at the time of testing.…”

“…Multiple studies, however, have demonstrated similar findings in a significant percentage of patients with AN. Failure of GH levels to suppress following an OGTT, or even paradoxical increases, have been found in a majority of patients (67)(68)(69). Failure of GH levels to suppress following an OGTT, or even paradoxical increases, have been found in a majority of patients (67)(68)(69).…”

The Hypothalamus: Physiology and Pathophysiology

“…Anorexia nervosa occurs primarily among adolescent Causcasian females from middle to upper-social-class backgrounds in Western society. The disorder occurs 19 times more frequently in women (68,69) and is rare in males (70). Anorexia nervosa was named by Gull over 100 years ago because of the presence of hyperactivity in emaciated patients whose "want of appetite is due to a morbid mental state" (71).…”

“…The disorder must not be caused by any other known medicalor psychiatric disorder (69). The affected woman has a distorted body image; even in her emaciated condition she views herself as having especially large hips and thighs.…”