Final answer:
Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder where individuals refuse to eat enough, becoming underweight but seeing themselves as overweight due to body dysmorphia.
Step-by-step explanation:
A severe eating disorder characterized by a refusal to maintain adequate body weight and an intense fear of gaining weight is called anorexia nervosa. Individuals with this condition often restrict food intake to the point where they become significantly underweight, yet still perceive themselves as overweight due to body dysmorphia. To meet the 250-word requirement for this question, it is important to distinguish anorexia nervosa from other disorders as it is marked by extreme low body weight and malnutrition.
Unlike binge eating disorder or bulimia nervosa, where individuals may binge and then purge, people with anorexia nervosa restrict intake and may engage in excessive exercise, but do not regularly purge after eating. Anorexia nervosa can lead to serious health consequences, including bone loss, heart failure, and even death if untreated. Rising awareness and understanding of this condition is critical, as it often requires a combination of psychological counseling and medical treatment.