What is a common characteristic of anorexia nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa is primarily characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to extreme dietary restrictions. One of the hallmark behaviors associated with this disorder is obsessive calorie counting. Individuals with anorexia often become fixated on the number of calories they consume, meticulously tracking their intake to maintain control over their eating patterns. This behavior is tightly linked to their psychological struggle with food and body image, further perpetuating their restrictive eating habits.

In contrast, other eating behaviors such as binge eating or consistent overeating are more commonly associated with other disorders, like bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder. Engaging in excessive physical activity may be present in individuals with anorexia, often as a way to burn calories and maintain a low weight, but it is not as defining a characteristic as the obsessive calorie counting.