Abstract
The “anorexia” in anorexia nervosa is a misnomer. The patient is hungry but willfully refuses to eat or is unable to do so. A point of inanition may be reached where the patient no longer is in control. Five patients with eating difficulties prompting psychiatric referral are described to illustrate some of the bewildering variety of clinical situations lumped together as anorexia nervosa. Only one of them represents true anorexia.