Director of NIMH's Statement: Anorexia Responds to Treatment

Several sites have published text of a statement by National Institute of Mental Health director Thomas R. Insel, M.D., regarding anorexia nervosa. The statement confirms that anorexia is a "brain disease" and responds to appropriate treatment. To save you the trouble of looking for it elsewhere, here is Dr. Insel's statement:

"Anorexia Nervosa, among the most serious of mental disorders, can be deadly for young women who get caught up in the malignant cycle of weight loss and compulsive behaviors. The mortality rate for those with anorexia nervosa is estimated at 5 percent per decade. Research tells us that anorexia nervosa is a brain disease with severe metabolic effects on the entire body. While the symptoms are behavioral, this illness has a biological core, with genetic components, changes in brain activity, and neural pathways currently under study. Most women with anorexia recover, usually following intensive psychological and medical care."

This statement may have impact on policies of insurance providers, many of which do not offer coverage for eating disorder treatment.

• Criteria for Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa
• More Information on Anorexia