Anorexia nervosa, often referred to simply as anorexia, is an eating disorder, characterized by low weight, food restriction, fear of gaining weight and an ...AnorexianervosaFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchTypeofeatingdisorder"Anorexia"and"Anorexic"redirecthere.Forlackofappetite,seeAnorexia(symptom).Forthemedication,seeAnorectic.Forotheruses,seeAnorexia(disambiguation).MedicalconditionAnorexianervosaOthernamesAnorexia"MissA—"depictedin1866andin1870aftertreatment.Shewasoneoftheearliestcasestudiesofanorexia.FromthepublishedmedicalpapersofSirWilliamGull.SpecialtyPsychiatry,ClinicalpsychologySymptomsLowweight,fearofgainingweight,strongdesiretobethin,foodrestrictions[1]ComplicationsOsteoporosis,infertility,heartdamage,suicide[1]UsualonsetTeenyearstoyoungadulthood[1]CausesUnknown[2]RiskfactorsFamilyhistory,high-levelathletics,modelling,dancing[2][3][4]DifferentialdiagnosisBodydysmorphicdisorder,bulimianervosa,substanceusedisorder,hyperthyroidism,inflammatoryboweldisease,dysphagia,cancer[5][6]TreatmentCognitivebehavioraltherapy,hospitalisationtorestoreweight[1][7]Prognosis5%riskofdeathover10years[3][8]Frequency2.9million(2015)[9]Deaths600(2015)[10]Anorexianervosa,oftenreferredtosimplyasanorexia,[11]isaneatingdisorder,characterizedbylowweight,foodrestriction,fearofgainingweightandanoverpoweringdesiretobethin.[1]Manypeoplewithanorexiaseethemselvesasoverweightalthoughtheyare,infact,underweight.[1][2]Theyalsooftendenythattheyhaveaproblemwithlowweight.[3]Theymayweighthemselvesfrequently,eatsmallamounts,and/oronlyeatcertainfoods.[1]Someexerciseexcessively,forcethemselvestovomit,oruselaxativestoloseweight.[1]Complicationsmayincludeosteoporosis,infertilityandheartdamage,amongothers.[1]Womenwilloftenstophavingmenstrualperiods.[3]Inextremecases,peoplewithanorexiawhocontinuallyrefusesignificantdietaryintakeandweightrestorationinterventions,andaredeclaredincompetenttomakedecisionsbyapsychiatrist,maybefedbyforceunderrestraintvianasogastrictube[12]afteraskin