Weight loss as a result of religious zeal in young Orthodox Jewish males
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Martin Fisher
Abstract
This paper presents three cases involving young Orthodox Jewish males, each of whom lost 15–25 pounds over a course of time ranging between a few months and up to 2 years, as the result of decreased food intake because of misinterpretation of a religious concept learned in their Judaic studies. Although each had a body mass index between 15.8 and 16.1, they did not display the body image concerns necessary for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. The discussion covers the distinction between anorexia nervosa and the newly described diagnosis in these young men, i.e., weight loss as a result of religious zeal, along with a brief history of fasting for religious reasons as described in previous centuries.
References
1. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnosis and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV-TR) Washington, DC: APA Press, 2000.Search in Google Scholar
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©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
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Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Editorial
- Unintentional death in childhood and adolescence
- Review
- Detached, distraught or discerning? Fathers of adolescents with chronic illness: a review of the literature
- Original Articles
- Perception of transition readiness and preferences for use of technology in transition programs: teens’ ideas for the future
- Adaptation of an internet-based depression prevention intervention for Chinese adolescents: from “CATCH-IT” to “grasp the opportunity”
- Smaller pelvic size in pregnant adolescents contributes to lower birth weight
- R620W polymorphism of protein tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22 in Egyptian children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus: relation to thyroid autoimmunity
- Motivational stage of change in young patients undergoing day treatment for eating disorders
- Leveraging microfinance to impact HIV and financial behaviors among adolescents and their mothers in West Bengal: a cluster randomized trial
- Patterns of contraception choice among Hispanic and non-Hispanic female adolescents
- Translation of children’s cycling into steps: the share of cycling in 10-year-olds’ physical activity
- Weight gain in an eating disorders day program
- Case Report
- Weight loss as a result of religious zeal in young Orthodox Jewish males
