Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that involves extreme weight loss, body dysmorphic disorder, and a denial of the risks associated with being underweight. It has significant health consequences and is more prevalent in females, often influenced by cultural standards of beauty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by extreme weight loss and the refusal to maintain a minimally normal body weight. Individuals with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight and consistently see themselves as overweight, despite being underweight. This distortion is often linked to body dysmorphic disorder, where there's a preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in physical appearance.
Another defining aspect of anorexia nervosa is the impact of one's body weight or shape on their self-evaluation. People with anorexia often deny the seriousness of their low body weight and the health consequences associated with it. Such denial can lead to severe complications, including bone loss, heart and kidney failure, amenorrhea, and even death.
Prevalence rates of anorexia nervosa vary but are significantly higher in females, with cultural pressures around body image being one contributing factor to the development of the disorder, particularly in Western societies.