Those affected try to lose weight by all means. Restrictive eating habits (counting and reducing calories) and increased burning of fatty tissue through sport and exercise play a particularly important role here. In addition, medication abuse, including laxatives and diuretics, may also be present. If episodes of ravenous hunger and eating large quantities of food, followed by artificially induced vomiting, also occur in the context of anorexia, it is referred to as bulimic-type anorexia nervosa (“bulimia”). In the course of the disease, there is a progressive loss of weight, which initially impairs physical performance. As the disease progresses, mental performance also increasingly decreases. Severe anorexia can also lead to damage to internal organs such as the heart, which can be life-threatening for those affected. The first symptoms are often regular monitoring of waist circumference, weighing and excessive preoccupation with nutrition.