Anorexia nervosa, also called anorexia, is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder that is characterized by self-starvation and excessive ...MenuNewsFeaturesReferenceFindaPsychiatristWhatIsAnorexia?CausesPrevention&RisksSymptomsDiagnosis&TreatmentAntidpressantsforAnorexiaSelf-CareAnxiety&PanicBingeEatingDisorderBulimiaNervosaCrisisAssistanceDepressionEatingDisordersMentalHealthStressManagementSubstanceAbuse&AddictionTeenHealthWomen'sHealthFindaPsychiatristMentalHealthEatingDisordersAnorexiaNervosaMenuMedicallyReviewedbySmithaBhandari, MDonJuly20,2020ArticlesOnAnorexiaNervosaWhatIsAnorexia?CausesPrevention&RisksSymptomsDiagnosis&TreatmentAntidpressantsforAnorexiaSelf-CareAnorexianervosa,alsocalledanorexia,isapotentiallylife-threateningeatingdisorderthatischaracterizedbyself-starvationandexcessiveweightloss.Thedisorderisdiagnosedwhenapersonweighsatleast15%lessthantheirnormal/idealbodyweight.Extremeweightlossinpeoplewithanorexianervosacanleadtodangeroushealthproblemsandevendeath.Thetermanorexialiterallymeans"lossofappetite."However,thisdefinitionismisleadingaspeoplewithanorexianervosaareoftenhungrybutrefusefoodanyway.Peoplewithanorexianervosahaveintensefearsofbecomingfatandseethemselvesasfatevenwhentheyareverythin.Theseindividualsmaytrytocorrectthisperceived"flaw"bystrictlylimitingfoodintakeandexercisingexcessivelyinordertoloseweight.WhoGetsAnorexia?Eatingdisorderslikeanorexiaaremorecommoninfemalesthaninmales,thoughtheratesinmalesareincreasing.Theriskofdevelopinganeatingdisorderisgreaterinactors,models,dancers,andathletesinsportswhereappearanceand/orweightareimportant,suchaswrestling,boxing,gymnastics,andfigureskating.Peoplewithanorexiatendtobeveryhighachievers,performingverywellinschool,sports,work,andotheractivities.Theytendtobeperfectionistswithobsessive,anxious,ordepressivesymptoms.Anorexianervosausuallybeginsaroundthetimeofpuberty,butitcandevelopatanytime.WhatCausesAnorexia?Theexactcauseofanorexiaisnotknown,butresearchsuggeststhatacombinationofcertainperson