Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. You can feel fat even when you are underweight. The disease is mainly widespread in the western world and is very popular  among  ballet dancers and models. Men or boys can also suffer from this disease. Anorexia usually starts in the teenage years. It is difficult to estimate how common it is but the researches suggest that up to 1% of schoolgirls and female university students have anorexia nervosa.

What causes it?
Anorexia nervosa is a progressive and potentially fatal disease. It is a type of eating disorder that is characterized by a 15% below normal body weight and a fear of getting fat.


 The researchers identify such factors that cause this disorder:
• genetic factors (people who have relatives with such disorder as anorexia nervosa have the same disease more often);
• cultural pressures (being extremely thin is the standard of beauty for women in many societies and represents happiness, success and self-control); 
 • psychological issues which include: feelings of ineffectiveness, low self-esteem, poor body image, need for control, depression, difficulty expressing feelings, rigid thinking patterns, perfectionism, physical abuse, avoidance of conflict with others, sexual abuse and the need to feel special);
• family life style (families of people with the disorder are more likely to be rigid and overprotective);
• life changes (chilhood,  adolescence, studing at school, working, breaking up of a relationship, broken love);
• emotional needs filled by feelings of self-control, virtue and power from controlling one's weight.