Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric diagnosis characterized by low body weight, body image distortion, and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Individuals with anorexia often control body weight by voluntary starvation, purging, vomiting, excessive exercise, or other weight control measures, such as diet pills or diuretics. Even though people suffering from anorexia nervosa show symptoms associated with food and body, anorexia is not really about food.  The illness develops as an unhealthy means of coping with overwhelming and uncomfortable emotions.  Common themes associated with anorexia include perfectionism, control, identity, unhealthy boundaries, self-worth, and trust.  For men or women struggling with anorexia nervosa, self-worth often becomes tied to maintaining control over their bodies and hunger.