anorexia nervosa

noun

anorexia ner·​vo·​sa -(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə How to pronounce anorexia nervosa (audio)
-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

Recent Examples on the Web About 1 in 4 people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa will attempt to kill themselves, and those with anorexia have a risk of death by suicide 31 times higher than peers without the disorder. April Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Feb. 2024 Watch for eating disorders The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder. Rochelle Koff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 The misuse of laxatives, however, has been associated with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa—often as a compensatory behavior for binge eating. Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2023 Within a year, I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa — a disorder that wreaked havoc on my mind and body for many years to come. Mallary Tenore Tarpley, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2023 Within months of completing the assignment, Ana was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and hospitalized. Mallary Tenore Tarpley, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2023 Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa or orthorexia where people consciously restrict their eating, can lead to dangerously low body weight and a number of other serious health problems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and thyroid conditions. Erica Sweeney, Good Housekeeping, 30 Sep. 2020 Willis detailed her battles throughout the last decade after getting sober at age 20, including suffering from anorexia nervosa and being admitted to a residential treatment facility for depression. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023 Watching mukbang could also negatively impact people on the other side of the disordered eating spectrum—those with a tendency to under-consume, as is the case with anorexia nervosa. Sarah Garone, Health, 4 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anorexia nervosa.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, nervous anorexia

First Known Use

1873, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anorexia nervosa was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near anorexia nervosa

Cite this Entry

“Anorexia nervosa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anorexia%20nervosa. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

anorexia nervosa

noun
anorexia ner·​vo·​sa -(ˌ)nər-ˈvō-sə How to pronounce anorexia nervosa (audio)
-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 How to pronounce anorexia nervosa (audio)
: 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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