Which eating disorder is characterized by obstinate and willful refusal to eat, a distorted body image, and an intense fear of being fat?

Which eating disorder is characterized by obstinate and willful refusal to eat, a distorted body image, and an intense fear of being fat?

• A. Anorexia nervosa
• B. Bulimia nervosa
• C. Sleep Disorders
• D. Facitious disorder

Answer: (A)

Anorexia nervosa is the eating disorder described here. It involves an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of one’s body, which lead to persistent restriction of food intake and resulting in significantly low body weight. The phrase “obstinate and willful refusal to eat” captures the deliberate restriction, while “distorted body image” shows how the person perceives themselves as overweight despite being underweight. The combination of these factors—restriction driven by fear of fat and a misperception of body size—best fits anorexia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, which isn’t the pattern described here. Sleep disorders are not eating disorders, and factitious disorder centers on feigning illness for external incentives rather than a fear of fat or body-image disturbance.

Anorexia nervosa is the eating disorder described here. It involves an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted view of one’s body, which lead to persistent restriction of food intake and resulting in significantly low body weight. The phrase “obstinate and willful refusal to eat” captures the deliberate restriction, while “distorted body image” shows how the person perceives themselves as overweight despite being underweight. The combination of these factors—restriction driven by fear of fat and a misperception of body size—best fits anorexia nervosa.

Bulimia nervosa involves binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like purging, which isn’t the pattern described here. Sleep disorders are not eating disorders, and factitious disorder centers on feigning illness for external incentives rather than a fear of fat or body-image disturbance.