Anorexia nervosa (AN), also known as simply Anorexia, is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight

and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. It is often coupled with a distorted self image[1][2] which may be maintained by various cognitive biases[3] that alter how the affected individual evaluates and thinks about her or his body, food and eating. Persons with anorexia nervosa continue to feel hunger, but deny themselves all but very small quantities of food. The average caloric intake of a person with anorexia nervosa is 600800 calories per day, but extreme cases of complete self-starvation are known.[4] It is a serious mental illness with a high incidence of comorbidity and the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.[5] Anorexia most often has its onset in adolescence and is most prevalent among adolescent girls. [6] However, more recent studies show that the onset age of anorexia decreased from an average of 13 to 17 years of age to 9 to 12. [7] While it can affect men and women of any age, race, and socioeconomic and cultural background,[8][9][10][11][12] Anorexia nervosa occurs in females 10 times more than in males.[13
The term anorexia nervosa was established in 1873 by Sir William Gull, one of Queen Victoria's personal physicians.[14] The term is of Greek origin: an- (-, prefix denoting negation) and orexis (, "appetite"), thus meaning a lack of desire to eat.[1

A person with anorexia nervosa may exhibit a number of signs and symptoms, some of which are listed below. The type and severity vary in each case and may be present but not readily apparent. Anorexia nervosa and the associated malnutrition that results from self-imposed starvation, can cause severe complications in every major organ system in the body.[16][17][18]

obvious, rapid, dramatic weight loss lanugo: soft, fine hair grows on face and body[19] obsession with calories and fat content preoccupation with food, recipes, or cooking; may cook elaborate dinners for others but not eat themselves[20] dieting despite being thin or dangerously underweight fear of gaining weight or becoming overweight rituals: cuts food into tiny pieces; refuses to eat around others; hides or discards food purging: uses laxatives, diet pills, ipecac syrup, or water pills; may engage in self-induced vomiting; may run to the bathroom after eating in order to vomit and quickly get rid of the calories[21][22] (see also bulimia nervosa). may engage in frequent, strenuous exercise[23] perception: perceives self to be overweight despite being told by others they are too thin becomes intolerant to cold: frequently complains of being cold due to loss of insulating body fat or poor circulation due to extremely low blood pressure; body temperature lowers (hypothermia) in effort to conserve energy[24]

depression: may frequently be in a sad, lethargic state[25] solitude: may avoid friends and family; becomes withdrawn and secretive clothing: some may wear baggy, loose-fitting clothes to cover weight loss if they have been confronted about their health and wish to hide it, while others will wear baggy clothing to hide what they see as an unattractive and overweight body. cheeks may become swollen due to enlargement of the salivary glands caused by excessive vomiting[26] swollen joints[citation needed] abdominal distension[citation needed] bad breath[citation needed] hair loss or thinning[citation needed] Missing three of the menstruation cycle[27]

Causes
Studies have hypothesized that the continuance of disordered eating patterns may be epiphenomena of starvation. The results of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment showed that normal controls exhibit many of the behavioral patterns of anorexia nervosa when subjected to starvation. This may be due to the numerous changes in the neuroendocrine system, which results in a self perpetuating cycle.[46][47][48][49] Studies have suggested that the initial weight loss such as dieting may be the triggering factor in developing AN in some cases, possibly due to an already inherent predisposition toward AN. One study reports cases of AN resulting from unintended weight loss that resulted from varied causes such as a parasitic infection, medication side effects, and surgery. The weight loss itself was the triggering factor.[50][51]