What percentage of expected weight constitutes a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa?

What percentage of expected weight constitutes a diagnostic criterion for anorexia nervosa?

• A. 70%
• B. 85%
• C. 95%
• D. 100%

Answer: (B)

In anorexia nervosa, the weight criterion is based on how a person’s weight compares to what is expected for their age, sex, and growth pattern. Significantly low weight is defined as less than 85% of the weight that would be expected. This threshold signals a clinically meaningful underweight state, not just normal variation. For children and adolescents, growth charts help determine the expected weight, and meeting this underweight threshold—along with restrictive eating and fear of gaining weight—contributes to the diagnosis. Values around 95% or 100% would not meet the underweight criterion, while about 70% would indicate more severe undernutrition beyond the usual diagnostic threshold. So, 85% of expected weight is the diagnostic benchmark.

In anorexia nervosa, the weight criterion is based on how a person’s weight compares to what is expected for their age, sex, and growth pattern. Significantly low weight is defined as less than 85% of the weight that would be expected. This threshold signals a clinically meaningful underweight state, not just normal variation. For children and adolescents, growth charts help determine the expected weight, and meeting this underweight threshold—along with restrictive eating and fear of gaining weight—contributes to the diagnosis. Values around 95% or 100% would not meet the underweight criterion, while about 70% would indicate more severe undernutrition beyond the usual diagnostic threshold. So, 85% of expected weight is the diagnostic benchmark.