Anorexia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening disorder and requires effective intervention as early as possible in order to minimize psychological, social, and physical repercussions. The younger the patient, the more pressing the need. Family therapy, parental counselling, and individual therapy all have their place and there may be a need for a period of in-patient treatment. Treatment is likely to be prolonged and intensive and early referral for specialist help is generally indicated.

Treatment may take place as an in-patient, a day patient, or an out-patient. As things stand, good research evidence is lacking on which to base treatment for anorexia nervosa. Recovery involves regaining a healthy weight and a pattern of eating to sustain it. There also needs to be a psychological change to address the specific psychopathology of the disorder. Thirdly, patients need to be able to get on with their life in a positive way once they have recovered to reduce the risk of relapse.

Anorexia Nervosa is serious eating disorder characterized by selfstarvation, food preoccupation and rituals, compulsive exercising, and often in girls an absence of menstrual cycles. People with anorexia nervosa is hungry but denies the hunger because of an irrational fear of becoming fat.

Food and weight become obsessions, and for some, the compulsiveness shows up in strange eating rituals or the refusal to eat in front of others. Some people with anorexia obsess about food, collecting recipes and preparing lavish gourmet feasts for family and friends while refusing any food themselves. They may adhere to strict exercise routines to keep off weight.

Certain personality characteristics seem to be associated with anorexia, including a fear of losing control, inflexible thinking, perfectionism, dissatisfaction with body image, and an overwhelming desire to be thin. Anorexia also has been linked to obsessive-compulsive tendencies, such as a preoccupation with food.