What characterizes anorexia nervosa?

The correct choice reflects a fundamental aspect of anorexia nervosa, which is characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight despite being underweight. Individuals with this disorder often have a distorted body image and may perceive themselves as overweight even when they are significantly thin. This fear leads them to adopt extreme behaviors to lose weight, including severe restriction of food intake and starvation. The emphasis on the irrational fear of weight gain highlights a core psychological component of anorexia nervosa, which is critical for understanding the disorder and its impact on eating behaviors and body image.

The other choices describe behaviors associated with different eating disorders. Excessive exercise leading to weight gain does not accurately represent anorexia nervosa, as individuals typically engage in exercise to further reduce weight. Episodes of severe overeating followed by purging are more indicative of bulimia nervosa, where individuals may fluctuate between periods of binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Compulsive eating followed by guilt and shame is aligned with patterns seen in binge eating disorder, where individuals experience a lack of control over their eating combined with feelings of distress. Thus, the focus on fear of weight gain and starvation specifically highlights the unique characteristics of anorexia nervosa.