size or weight, including frequent weighing, obsessive measuring of body parts, and per-
sistent use of a mirror to check for perceived areas of “fat.” The self-esteem of individuals
with anorexia nervosa is highly dependent on their perceptions of body shape and weight.
Weight loss is often viewed as an impressive ac hievement and a sign of extraordinary self-
discipline, whereas weight gain is perceived as an unacceptable failure of self-control. Al-
though some individuals with this disorder  may acknowledge being thin, they often do
not recognize the serious medical implic ations of their malnourished state. 
Often, the individual is brought to professional attention by family members after marked