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 screening tests on LuriaLab

Related glossary terms

Domande frequenti

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.