Question: Why does your brain sees you fat when you have anorexia?

Alex Spiers answered on 21 Nov 2019:

Really difficult question. There is more than one type of anorexia – which is just the general word for not eating, and can be symptom of other things (e.g. chemotherapy or drug use). But anorexia nervosa is the mental disorder where people do not eat – it is the most fatal mental disorder.

I know people strongly debate what is the cause of anorexia nervosa, which is highly inheritable (meaning genetics plays a strong part). Other people become anorexic beause of digestive problems, and some people argue that it has psychological causes. E.g. Worries about ideal body image etc. Not everyone who is anorexic will see themselves as overweight whent they are not, but many do.

The truth is that the causes are usual a complex interaction of all factors that cause it. I am not sure why exactly people see themselves as overweight when they are not – and I would be interested to know the answer. I am sorry if that doen’t answer your question!