Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is associated with a higher mortality rate due to serious health complications. While treatment can lead to recovery in 50 to 85 percent of cases, anorexia nervosa remains one of the mental disorders with the highest mortality rate, contributing to an estimated 7,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anorexia Nervosa and Mortality Rates
Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder that involves the persistent consumption of very little food and a fear of gaining weight. This condition often leads to a significant and dangerous underweight status. Long-term evaluations of individuals with anorexia nervosa indicate a higher mortality rate compared to the general population, primarily due to serious health complications such as heart failure, kidney failure, and bone loss.
Treatment aims at recovery and the resumption of normal eating habits and can result in about 50 to 85 percent of individuals with eating disorders recovering with proper treatment. Still, the battle with maintaining normal eating behaviors can be lifelong. Unfortunately, without treatment, the risk of death rises significantly, making anorexia nervosa the mental disorder with among the highest mortality rates.
It should be noted that the specific percentage of individuals with anorexia nervosa who die as a result of their disorder is not stated here, but eating disorders are recognized for having the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, with an estimated 7,000 deaths per year in the United States alone.