Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by maintaining a body weight well below average. It is associated with negative health outcomes and affects primarily White females from Western societies. Treatment aims at recovery, but lifelong struggles with maintaining normal eating behaviors may be present.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by maintaining a body weight well below average through starvation and excessive exercise. Individuals with anorexia nervosa have a distorted body image and view themselves as overweight despite being not. This disorder is associated with negative health outcomes such as bone loss, heart and kidney failure, amenorrhea, and in extreme cases, death. Prevalence rates vary, but generally range from just under one percent to just over four percent in women, with lower rates for men.
Anorexia and bulimia nervosa occur in people from various cultures, but White females from Western societies are most at-risk. Research suggests that females between 15 and 19 years old are most vulnerable, as these disorders may be related to messages of a thin ideal portrayed in popular media. Social factors and genetic predisposition can contribute to the development of eating disorders.
Treatment for anorexia nervosa aims at recovery, including gaining control of eating, adopting normal eating habits, and attaining a normal weight. About 50 to 85 percent of people with eating disorders recover with treatment, but some may struggle throughout their lives to maintain normal eating behaviors.