Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and distorted perception of body weight and shape. The disorder has been recognized for hundreds of years across different cultures. However, the term “anorexia” is a misnomer because patients often retain their appetite.
The core features of anorexia nervosa are;
●Restriction of energy intake, which leads to a significantly low body weight (defined as a weight that is less than minimally normal), given the patient’s age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
●Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, despite a weight that is significantly low.
●Disturbance in how one experiences body weight and shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-worth, or denial of the seriousness of one’s low body weight.
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