Yack,

The bottom line "no matter what the cause" for extreme weight loss is that it is dangerous if the weight loss is below the minimum weight for your size.

My first weight loss was from depression & a reaction to several Anti-depressants I was put on. I am 5'2" & ended up weighing 85 lbs before anyone realized it was a problem. This last time (the beginning of this year), I lost massive weight due to stress & going through a trauma regarding my Mothers death. Same height & ended up weighing 93 lbs.

The cause wasn't the mental anorexia nervosa...(no body image problem....knowing I looked like a walking skeleton).......both times I continually became anemic & suffered from malnutrition......no it isn't anorexia nervosa.....however the definition of excessive weight loss is anorexia.....no matter what the cause. Also no matter what the cause, if you become anemic & end up with malnutrition.....the physical care is the same no matter what the cause

Be careful not to let the weight loss get too extreme with your depression like I did....you don't want to go through the physical treatment necessary to keep you physically healthy....being medically hospitalized with a central line (IV) with TPN nutrition being put into your body to keep you alive is a horrible way to live.

Take care of your depression so you don't end up with the extreme weight loss. One thing in our favor is that we only need to deal with what is physically causing our weight loss & not the body image issues that go along with the mental causes of anorexia.
Debbie