According to the DSM-IV, anorexia nervosa is characterized by a refusal to maintain body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image and amenorrhea ( Polivy). According to the Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, “up to 24 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States” (Siber 331). Anorexia affects girls during adolescence and rarely affects men. A person suffering from anorexia fears being overweight and weighs 15% less than their ideal weight. Those who suffer from anorexia will pursue extreme diets, exercise, and use laxatives. They will skip meals and even starve. They will binge and purge every time they decide to eat (Post). This will make them very moody and affect their cognitive functions (Brockmeyera). Anorexia can be fatal to health and lead to suicide (Silber). Anorexia nervosa can be caused by peer pressure from family and friends, teasing and bullying at school, leading to psychological problems and can lead to a person inflicting pain on themselves and can lead to extreme health problems. In this article, I will prove that anorexia nervosa, which is an eating disorder in adolescents, can have adverse health effects and cause psychological, physical and emotional damage. Anorexia appears to affect girls in many cultures; however, it is often found in industrialized societies, where being thin equates to being attractive (Post). It's not clear what directly causes an eating disorder to develop, but certain risk factors can contribute. Many things can push a person over the edge and turn them into something they would... middle of paper ....... " Annual Review of Psychology 53 (2002): 187-213. ProQuest. Web . November 10, 2013. Post, Diana. Study Supports Family Therapy for Anorexia Norwalk: Belvoir Media Group, LLC, (2010) Web. , Two-by-Four: History of Weight Loss and Disrupted Eating in Young Adult Women” -15 November 2013. “Anorexia. Mental Health: Pediatric Nursing 37.6 (2011): 331-3. ProQuest Web. October 17, 2013. “Somatic Problems and Self-Injurious Behaviors 18 Years After Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa.” European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 21.8 (2012): 421-32 Internet November 20... 2013.