Which of the following is a key marker of anorexia nervosa?

• A. Only eating at night.
• B. Only eating "clean" or "good" foods.
• C. Eating upwards of 1,000 Calories in one meal.
• D. Extremely restricted calorie intake.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of anorexia nervosa. It is a psychological eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading to extreme restriction of calorie intake.
2. Step 2: Analyze the options provided in the problem. Each option describes a behavior related to eating habits, but not all are markers of anorexia nervosa.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the first option, 'Only eating at night.' This behavior is not a defining characteristic of anorexia nervosa but may be associated with other eating disorders like night eating syndrome.
4. Step 4: Evaluate the second option, 'Only eating "clean" or "good" foods.' While this may indicate orthorexia (an obsession with healthy eating), it is not a key marker of anorexia nervosa.
5. Step 5: Evaluate the third option, 'Eating upwards of 1,000 Calories in one meal.' This behavior is more indicative of binge eating disorder, not anorexia nervosa. The correct marker of anorexia nervosa is 'Extremely restricted calorie intake,' as it aligns with the core characteristic of the disorder.