| A rare neurologic disease with psychiatric involvement characterized by significantly lower-than-expected body weight due to voluntary reduction of food intake, intense fear of becoming overweight, and a distorted body image, in prepubescent children. Secondary manifestations include growth, developmental, and pubertal delay, decreased bone density, severe metabolic and endocrine dysfunction, cognitive impairment, depression, deterioration of academic or athletic performance, as well as difficulties in familial and peer relations, among others. |