In this article we present a theoretical model that points to disgust-induced avoidance as a mechanism that can help explain the persistent and excessive food restriction in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). Disgust is characterized by intense negative feelings of revulsion and an overwhelming and irresistible urge to avoid potential disgust elicitors. When eating, or even the prospect of eating, elicits overwhelming feelings of disgust in individuals with AN, this could explain why food restriction persists even when someone is in a state of starvation. Following this model, disgust is elicited by the expected impact of food on the own body ("becoming fat") resulting in body-related self-disgust. We argue that limiting food intake may serve to avoid self-disgust. This implies that when self-disgust remains unchanged following treatment of AN, residual levels of self-disgust after treatment could make individuals vulnerable to relapse.

在本文中，我们提出了一个理论模型，该模型指出厌恶诱发的回避是一种机制，可以帮助解释神经性厌食症 (AN) 患者持续和过度的食物限制。厌恶的特点是强烈的厌恶情绪和强烈的、不可抗拒的冲动，以避免潜在的厌恶引发者。进食时，甚至是进食的前景，都会引起 AN 患者强烈的厌恶感，这可以解释为什么即使有人处于饥饿状态，食物限制仍然存在。按照这个模型，厌恶是由食物对自己身体的预期影响（“变胖”）引起的，导致与身体相关的自我厌恶。我们认为，限制食物摄入量可能有助于避免自我厌恶。