How do anorexics get so thin if starving yourself makes you hold on to fat?

Anorexia actually does *not* make you hold onto fat. In fact, people with anorexia nervosa exhibit significant weight loss, muscle weakness, and malnutrition. The condition stems from an obsessive fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. Individuals with anorexia nervosa severely restrict their food intake and engage in excessive exercise, leading to a dangerously low body weight and numerous health complications.