Anorexia Nervosa - Definition



Anorexia Nervosa Definition 2636
Photo by: Dmitry Ersler

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that occurs primarily among girls and women. It is characterized by a fear of gaining weight, self-starvation, and a distorted view of body image. The condition is usually brought on by emotional disorders that lead a person to worry excessively about the appearance of his or her body. There are generally two types of anorexia: one is characterized by strict dieting and exercising; the other type includes binging and purging. Binging is the act of eating abnormally large amounts of food in a short period of time. Purging is the use of vomiting or other methods, such as laxatives, to empty the stomach. An individual who suffers from anorexia is called anorexic.

Amenorrhea:
Absence of menstrual periods.
Binge eating:
A pattern of eating large quantities of food in a short period of time.
Purging:
The use of vomiting or other techniques to empty the stomach of food.

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