Anorexia Nervosa or more commonly Anorexia is a psychological eating disorder that can be potentially life-threatening to the patient. There are two types of anorexia: restricting and purging. The restricting type of anorexia achieves weight loss though restricting calories. The purging type of anorexia achieves weight loss through vomiting and laxatives. Anorexia affects the body and  and the mind much like other eating disorders. It affects the body by causing dramatic weight loss, low iron levels, dehydration, muscle loss, weak bones, poor blood circulation as well as other things. Anorexia affects the mind in several different ways such as a fear of gaining weight and a preoccupation with food. There is no single reason as to why a person has anorexia. It is generally started because of mental and emotional reasons such as body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), low self esteem, body dissatisfaction  or bullying from others. Generally anorexia affects women more than men but there are lots of men who suffer with anorexia. The recognizable features of someone who is anorexia are extreme weight loss, anxiety and/or depression, heightened anxiety around meal times, loss or thinning of hair. It is important to remember that just because someone is skinny,that does not mean that they have an eating disorder. Treatments for anorexia can vary based on the patient but common treatment includes: therapy, nutritional-such as meal planning and educating, and medical treatment.

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