Anorexia Nervosa often begins following a normal weight-loss diet. After the person loses a reasonable amount of weight, she or he will continue to eat very little and refuse to stop dieting. This disorder can affect both males and females of all ages, but typically, AN affects teenage or adolescent females. If AN is not detected early, the emotional and physical consequences are life threatening.
Social factors appear to play an important role.
Emphasis on the desirability to be thin prevails in our society, and obesity is associated with a wide range of undesirable traits. Other significant factors include family and emotional conflicts, ineffective coping skills, peer pressure to be thin, a history of being slightly overweight, a desire for perfection, a tendency toward being compulsive or over-achieving, and psychological stress. Poor or few interpersonal relationships can contribute as well. Anorexia Nervosa Extreme fear of obesity. Signs and Symptoms Significant weight loss in a rather short period of time.