Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and extreme weight loss. Signs and symptoms of Anorexia include fear of being fat or gaining weight even when underweight, preoccupation with food, calories, fat grams, or dieting, excuses to avoid meals and eating, excessive exercise and dramatic weight loss. Anorexia can occur in both women and men, but is more common in women. Health problems that can occur as a result of anorexia include heart damage, hair loss, muscle/bone loss, severe dehydration, fainting, and growth of a thin layer of hair over the entire body (called lanugo). Anorexia has the highest fatality rate of any psychological illness.