anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə 
-zə
: a serious disorder in eating behavior that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss and that occurs most commonly in young women in their teens and early twenties
Examples of anorexia nervosa in a Sentence
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These include anorexia nervosa as the most common one, followed by bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, pica, rumination, and two categories that include a wider range of less common or less studied disordered eating behaviors.
—
Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
The medical term anorexia nervosa (starvation by the mind) was only identified much later, by the British physician William Gull in 1873.
—Anna Shechtman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
Poor nutritional intake may also occur as a result of alcohol use disorder or eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2024
Even if a person has an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, the companies will happily sell them a semaglutide or tirzepatide product without a prescription.
—C. Michael White / The Conversation, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024
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Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025
The medical term anorexia nervosa (starvation by the mind) was only identified much later, by the British physician William Gull in 1873.
—Anna Shechtman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Mar. 2024
Poor nutritional intake may also occur as a result of alcohol use disorder or eating disorders like anorexia nervosa.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 18 Dec. 2024
Even if a person has an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, the companies will happily sell them a semaglutide or tirzepatide product without a prescription.
—C. Michael White / The Conversation, Quartz, 21 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for anorexia nervosa
Cite this Entry
“Anorexia nervosa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anorexia%20nervosa. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə
-zə
: a serious eating disorder especially of young women in their teens in which an abnormal fear of weight gain leads to faulty eating habits and extreme weight loss
Medical Definition
anorexia nervosa
noun
anorexia ner·vo·sa
-(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə, -zə
: a serious eating disorder that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss and that occurs most commonly in young women in their teens and early twenties
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