anorexia

literally, a loss of appetite. Anorexia nervosa is a psychological disorder that is commonly associated with young women and girls. The person has a false and distorted image of herself as being fat and a develops a fear or phobia relating to obesity and becomes unable to eat. The person may take laxatives and induce vomiting, as well as starving herself, in order to lose weight. Accompanying symptoms include AMENORRHEA , low BLOOD PRESSURE , ANAEMIA and a risk of sudden death from heart damage.