Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder involving restriction of food intake, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of body weight or shape.

Definition

Anorexia nervosa is a serious condition marked by significantly low body weight relative to needs, driven by fear of weight gain and body-image disturbance. It has serious medical risks and requires professional care. Screening tools like the EAT-26 flag risk but do not diagnose.

What it can feel like

  • Severely restricting food intake.
  • Intense fear of gaining weight.
  • Seeing yourself as overweight despite being underweight.
  • Excessive exercise or preoccupation with calories.

Related glossary terms

سؤالات متداول

Is anorexia only about food?

No. Food restriction is one feature, but anorexia involves complex emotional, psychological, and control-related factors and serious physical risks.

When is anorexia a medical emergency?

Severe weight loss, fainting, chest pain, or heart symptoms need urgent medical care. Screening is not a substitute for medical evaluation.

Sources

  • Garner DM, et al. EAT-26
  • NICE — eating disorders guidance

Last reviewed: 2026-07-02. Screening tools on LuriaLab are for education only and do not provide a diagnosis.