anorexia nervosa

noun anorexia ner·vo·sa \ -(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə , -zə \

|Updated on: 8 Jul 2018

: a serious disorder in eating behavior primarily of young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss

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Recent Examples of anorexia nervosa from the Web

Besides schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, these include obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia nervosa and Tourette’s syndrome.

— The Economist, "A big collaboration is trying to understand diseases of the psyche," 28 June 2018
This fear concerns clinical psychologist Melody Moore of Dallas, who reminds her patients that, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, the most fatal mental disorder is anorexia nervosa.

— kelyn soong, chicagotribune.com, "Runners spread awarness about eating disorders in their sport," 7 June 2018
For example, a 15-year-old with an eating disorder, particularly anorexia nervosa, has 10 times the risk of dying in her teen years compared to another teen who doesn't have an eating disorder, McLain said.

— gracie bonds staples, chicagotribune.com, "Residential facilities can be key in treating eating disorders," 29 Mar. 2018
That heart-wrenching statistic applies specifically to anorexia nervosa, which causes a person to severely limit their food intake.

— sarah klein, Health.com, "9 Ways to Help a Friend With an Eating Disorder," 28 Feb. 2018
Oh My Girl’s first single since the withdrawal of former member JinE, who left the group due to ongoing health complications related to her struggle with anorexia nervosa.

— tamar herman, Billboard, "Oh My Girl Dreams of Growing Their 'Secret Garden' in New Single," 10 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'anorexia nervosa.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of anorexia nervosa

New Latin, nervous anorexia

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1873

in the meaning defined above

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Medical Dictionary

anorexia nervosa

noun anorexia ner·vo·sa \ -(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə, -zə \

: a serious eating disorder primarily of young women in their teens and early twenties that is characterized especially by a pathological fear of weight gain leading to faulty eating patterns, malnutrition, and usually excessive weight loss