Anorexia nervosa is a progressive eating disorder characterised by the inability to consistently maintain adequate body weight.
Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming obese, and have an unrealistic, negative body image.
Anorexia can kill. The patients are often seen as perfectionist. They set unrealistically high expectations for themselves in many areas of their lives. These expectations often lead to stress, low self-esteem, and loss of control. The anorexic patients show increased rate of depression and obsessive - compulsive disorder.