Anorexia nervosa is characterized by:

* Extreme thinness (emaciation)

* A relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight

* Intense fear of gaining weight

* Distorted body image, a self-esteem that is heavily influenced by perceptions of body weight and shape, or a denial of the seriousness of low body weight

* Lack of menstruation among girls and wome

* Extremely restricted eating.