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Return to the full Anorexia Nervosa pillar page.

Clinical overview

• Anorexia nervosa is not just low weight. It is a pattern of restriction, fear of weight gain, and body-image distortion that pulls eating, identity, and self-evaluation into a narrow and often dangerous cycle.
• Low weight required: Significantly low weight remains part of the core diagnosis, so the syndrome is not defined by thoughts alone.
• Psychological drivers: The fear of weight gain and the distorted relationship to body shape help distinguish anorexia from other causes of weight loss.
• Subtype thinking: It is still helpful to ask whether the picture is primarily restrictive or whether binge-purge behaviors are also part of it.

Related Guides

• Anorexia Nervosa DSM Criteria Guide
• Anorexia Nervosa Scales and Assessment Tools
• Anorexia Nervosa Treatments and Medications
• When to Seek Professional Help for Anorexia Nervosa