anorexia nervosa

American  

[an-uh-rek-see-uh nur-voh-suh] / ˌæn əˈrɛk si ə nɜrˈvoʊ sə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an eating disorder primarily affecting adolescent girls and young women, characterized by pathological fear of becoming fat, distorted body image, excessive dieting, and emaciation.

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anorexia nervosa Scientific  

/ nûr-vō′sə /

1. An eating disorder characterized by a distorted body image, fear of becoming obese, persistent aversion to food, and severe weight loss and malnutrition. It most commonly affects teenage girls and young women, who often develop amenorrhea, osteoporosis and other abnormalities.

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anorexia nervosa Cultural  

1. A psychosomatic disorder in which the sufferer refuses to eat and undertakes activities (such as self-induced vomiting) to bring about extreme weight loss. Anorexia, which is also characterized by a distorted self-image, occurs most often in young women aged twelve to twenty-one and may result in death if medical treatment is not obtained. Treatment for anorexia often includes extensive counseling to reveal underlying emotional problems.

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Etymology

Origin of anorexia nervosa

First recorded in 1870–75; from New Latin: “nervous anorexia”

Compare meaning

How does anorexia-nervosa compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• anorexia vs. anorexia nervosa

Example Sentences

Clinicians continue to debate how best to define it, as orthorexia can share features of anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

From Slate • May 25, 2025

After plucking up the courage to seek help, I was eventually diagnosed with anorexia nervosa with binging tendencies.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

In fact, until 2013, the loss of menstruation had long been considered an official symptom of anorexia nervosa.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

For example, examining the sleep patterns of people with genetic differences that makes them more likely to have anorexia nervosa, this provides evidence on the relationship between anorexia nervosa and sleep.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2024

A peculiar type of anorexia is that striking and remarkable digestive disturbance of hysteria which Sir William Gull has called anorexia nervosa.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Pyle, Walter L. (Walter Lytle)