Anorexia nervosa- involves dieting or not eating to the point where weight is 15% below ideal body weight; characterized by an obsessive fear of becoming overweight, an inaccurate perception of being overweight, and the use of compulsive rituals to lose weight; usually begins in early-mid adolescence
*symptoms: begins to eliminate foods from diet and skipping meals, sometimes also exercising obsessively, has periods of not eating followed by periods of binge eating; as weight drops, health deteriorates, skin begins to look pale or yellow, nails and hair become brittle, can become constipated, anemic, have swollen joints, feel cold all the time, have sores that don't heal, may have difficulty concentrating and thinking

Informative link: WellWeb.com Eating Disorders

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