The pathological desire to maintain a low body weight is known as __________.

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The pathological desire to maintain a low body weight is a key characteristic of anorexia nervosa, where individuals severely restrict their food intake, leading to significant weight loss and potential physical and psychological health consequences. Bulimia nervosa, on the other hand, involves periods of excessive food consumption followed by compensatory behaviors (such as purging), and while it may involve body weight concerns, it is not exclusively defined by a desire for a low body weight. Dieting and body dysmorphic disorder may involve dissatisfaction with one's body or desire for weight loss, but they do not necessarily involve the extreme and potentially life-threatening behaviors seen in anorexia nervosa.

The Pathological Desire to Maintain a Low Body Weight Is