Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that arises within individuals who develop a paralyzing fear of becoming fat. The driving force is the pursuit of thinness hence the aim of this illness is achieved by radical restrictions of calorie
intake leading up to emaciation. Anorexia nervosa has been linked to; family, biological, social and cultural factors. Most investigators favor a psychiatric etiology, however there is disagreement about its nature. The course of anorexia nervosa is variable. After long- term follow-up, about half of the patients achieve normal weight, 20 percent improve but remain underweight, 20 percent continue to be anorexic, 5 percent become obese, and 6 percent die. Death is usually result of cardiac arrhythmias or suicide. The benefits of psychiatric intervention are marginal.