Wannarexia

Wannarexia, or anorexic yearning, is a label applied to someone who claims to have anorexia nervosa, or wishes they did, but does not; such individuals are also called wannarexics or anorexic wannabes, and the term is often used pejoratively. Wannarexia is a cultural phenomenon with no diagnostic criteria, more commonly though not exclusively found among teenagers who feel a need to lose weight and believe anorexia will resolve their dissatisfaction with their appearance, likely caused by a combination of cultural and media influences, and may be inspired by the pro-ana community that promotes anorexia as a lifestyle choice. Many people who actually suffer from anorexia are angry, offended, or frustrated by wannarexia, since eating disorders involve complex underlying causes beyond weight, and labeling someone wannarexic can invalidate a real disorder or worsen its development in someone who is in fact affected.