Anorexia nervosa (say "an-uh-RECK-see-uh nur-VOH-suh") is a type of eating disorder. People who have anorexia usually have a very low body weight because of an intense fear of gaining weight. They may not eat enough food because of this fear. Some people make themselves vomit to avoid weight gain. Sometimes they exercise too much.

People who have anorexia may have a false belief about how they look (distorted body image). And they may not realize how serious their low body weight is. So it's important that other people in their life offer support and try to get help for them. Early treatment is important. If not treated, anorexia can lead to serious health problems, starvation, and even death.