Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa, or simply anorexia, is a common eating disorder that affects 0.9% to 4.3% of women and 0.2% to 0.3% of men in Western countries at some point throughout their lives. Anorexics have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 17.5, and they live with a dread of gaining weight and an uncontrollable desire to lose weight.

Anorexia has a wide range of symptoms that can be life-threatening. Amenorrhea, for example, is a problem in which women's periods stop and can eventually lead to infertility. Anorexia can also lead to psychological problems including low self-esteem, anxiety, and sadness. People with anorexia frequently drastically restrict their food intake to avoid weight gain or to maintain their weight loss. They may restrict their calorie intake by vomiting after meals or abusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics, and enemas. They could also try to shed weight by over-exercising. No matter how much weight is dropped, the person is still afraid of gaining it again.