A Serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss
Primary Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa:
Restriction of energy intake leading to a significantly low body weight (weight that is less than minimally normal or, for children and adolescents, less than minimally expected) in the context of age, sex, developmental trajectory, and physical health.
Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, or persistent behavior that interferes with weight gain, even though at a significantly low weight.
Disturbance in the way in which one's body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self-evaluation, or persistent lack of recognition of the seriousness of the current low body weight.
There are two types of Anorexia Nervosa:
Restricting Type: During the last 3 months, the person has not engaged in recurrent episodes of binge-eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.)
Binge-Eating/Purging Type: During the last 3 months, the person has engaged in recurrent episodes of binge eating or purging behavior (i.e., self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.)