Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where sufferers have an intense fear of putting on weight. Although the term literally means 'loss of appetite for nervous reasons', anorexics usually have a normal appetite, but severely limit the amount of food they eat in order to reduce their body weight to an unhealthily low level. In addition to restrictive dieting, they may also use intense exercise programmes, laxatives, diet pills or diuretics as a means of controlling their body shape.
Although anorexia nervosa can develop at any age, the majority of sufferers are between the ages of 13 and 19. The condition affects 1 in 200 women, and 1 in 2,000 men, and is thought to be linked not only to the importance modern society places on being thin, but also to feelings of control and self-worth.
If left untreated, anorexia can lead to serious health problems. However, if the sufferer wants to and is ready to get better, they may be successfully treated with psychotherapy and diet advice.
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