Three cases of anorexia nervosa

She is an intelligent 18 year old who has reluctantly agreed to see me with her mother, who is consumed with anxiety over her daughter's abnormal eating habits. Alexia denies there's a problem and we arrange a new appointment alone. She is on the 85th and 25th centiles for height and weight respectively, menarche at 13, periods always slightly irregular. Boyfriends? She's a bit choosy, avoiding emotional involvement for the time being because she's working for exams. Diet? Vegetarian by choice but with a reasonable understanding of the elements of a healthy diet. Her psychological state seems normal. I warn her of the possible consequences of extreme dieting and reassure her mother. Six months later, studying archeology and living away from home, she's lost four …