Anorexia

Anorexia is a condition in which a person may:

  • Avoid food 
  • Severely restrict food 
  • Eat very small quantities of certain foods 
  • Have a distorted body image 
  • Have an unhealthy or inaccurate view of their body  

There are two types of anorexia: Restrictive and binge-purge 

  • Restrictive anorexia type: The person severely limits how much or what they eat.
  • Binge-purge anorexia type: The person restricts food intake. They may also have episodes of binge eating and purging.

Common signs and symptoms: 

Extremely restricted eating, intensive exercise, or excessive exercise, or a combination of these:

  • Extreme thinness, or emaciation
  • Constantly trying to be thin
  • Unwillingness to maintain a normal or unhealthy weight
  • Intense fear of gaining weight
  • Distorted body or self-image
  • Denying the seriousness of low body weight 

Related condition: Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder 

This is a condition in which a person limits the amount of food or type of food they eat, but they don’t have a distorted body image. A child with this disorder doesn’t eat enough calories to grow and develop normally. An adult may not eat enough calories to maintain normal body functions. 

Common signs and symptoms may include: 

  • Severe restriction in the amount or types of food eaten 
  • Lack of appetite or interest in food 
  • Significant weight loss 
  • Upset stomach, abdominal pain, or other gastrointestinal issues with no other known cause 
  • "Picky eating” that gets progressively worse 

Treatment recommendations 

Treatment is based on a medical evaluation and the person’s needs. The goal of this treatment is weight management, improving health and supporting recovery. Depending on the person’s needs, care for these conditions may include: 

  • Potential hospitalization or inpatient residential care
  • Rehabilitation of nutrition to safely restore nutrition and weight
  • Psychotherapy
  • Medication
  • Ongoing monitoring 

When to seek an urgent help 

A person with anorexia or restrictive food intake disorder should seek immediate evaluation and treatment if they exhibit: 

  • Fainting
  • Chest pain
  • Severe weakness
  • Refusal to eat or drink
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Confusion
  • Vomiting
  • Laxative misuse
  • Severe hydration 

Resources 

 

 

 

Last Updated 10/28/2026