Which disorder is characterized by a profound fear of weight gain and severe restriction of food intake?

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an intense preoccupation with weight, a profound fear of gaining weight, and an extreme restriction of food intake. Individuals diagnosed with this disorder often have a distorted body image, viewing themselves as overweight even when they are underweight. This condition can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies and a range of physical complications due to inadequate caloric intake.

Those suffering from anorexia often go to great lengths to avoid situations where they might be tempted to eat, and their behavior may include excessive exercise, obsessive calorie counting, and other means to control their weight. The psychological component is significant, as the fear of weight gain can lead to drastic behaviors focused on weight loss, even when the individual is at a dangerously low weight.

In contrast, bulimia nervosa involves cycles of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercising. Binge eating disorder focuses on episodes of eating large quantities of food without compensatory measures. Orthorexia is characterized by an unhealthy fixation on eating only healthy foods but does not specifically include the fear of weight gain or significant food restriction. These distinctions underscore why anorexia nervosa is the correct answer to the question about the disorder marked by a profound fear of weight gain and severe food intake restriction.