Final answer:
An intense fear of gaining weight that does not decrease with weight loss characterizes a person suffering from anorexia nervosa, a severe eating disorder.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following characterizes a person suffering from anorexia nervosa? The correct answer is C) an intense fear of gaining weight that does not decrease with weight loss. Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder marked by a significant reduction in food intake and profound concern over body weight and shape. Sufferers maintain a body weight well below average through self-starvation and/or excessive exercise and often have a distorted body image. These individuals may view themselves as overweight even when they are underweight, a condition sometimes known as body dysmorphia.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a relentless pursuit of weight loss through severe food restriction and/or excessive exercise. Individuals with anorexia nervosa typically have an intense fear of gaining weight strong>that does not decrease even with weight loss, leading to a distorted perception of their own body shape. This misperception, known as body dysmorphic disorder, often results in a negative body image, with individuals viewing themselves as fat even when they are very thin. Anorexia nervosa is not characterized by a positive image of the body shape or a high level of self-efficacy.