Anorexia: A perverse effect of attempting to control the starvation response

Randolph M. Nesse
2017 Behavioral and Brain Sciences  
Starvation arouses evolved protective mechanisms including binge eating and increased metabolic efficiency and fat storage. When aroused by dieting, the experiences of out-of-control eating, increased appetite, and increased fat storage arouse greater fears of obesity, spurring renewed attempts to restrict intake severely. The resulting positive feedback cycle escalates into bulimia for many, and anorexia in a few.
doi:10.1017/s0140525x16001503 pmid:29342586 fatcat:p72bzmbtpvd4nk5jyp3rx2uife