Although the motives and objectives that underlie anorexia are not completely alike, victims share characteristics such as a desire for perfection while simultaneously lacking self-confidence, possessing amazing persistence, and having difficulty in maintaining intimate relationships. Their use of extreme dieting methods in order to achieve weight loss goals gives rise to anxiety, which subsequently leads to ailments such as depression and compulsiveness, or even self-injury and suicide.
雖然厭食的動機與目的不盡相同，但患者都有追求完美、意志力驚人、缺乏自信、難以維持親密關係等特質，只是她們雖藉由強烈的節食手段達成瘦身目標，卻因此更顯焦慮而伴隨出現憂鬱症、強迫症等疾患，甚至自傷、自殺的行為。