What is Anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is the fear of becoming fat and/or perceiving yourself as fat when you aren’t necessarily so; it is characterized by weight loss or difficulty maintaining appropriate weight and often negative body image.

Healthline.

“People with anorexia nervosa eat an extremely low-calorie diet and have an excessive fear of gaining weight. They often feel better about themselves when they lose weight. They may also exercise excessively.”

NEDA.

“Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss (or lack of appropriate weight gain in growing children); difficulties maintaining an appropriate body weight for height, age, and stature; and, in many individuals, distorted body image. People with anorexia generally restrict the number of calories and the types of food they eat. Some people with the disorder also exercise compulsively, purge via vomiting and laxatives, and/or binge eat.”

WebMD.

“Anorexia nervosa, also called anorexia, is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder that is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. The disorder is diagnosed when a person weighs at least 15% less than his or her normal/ideal body weight. The term anorexia literally means “loss of appetite.” However, this definition is misleading as people with anorexia nervosa are often hungry but refuse food anyway. People with anorexia nervosa have intense fears of becoming fat and see themselves as fat even when they…