Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by a significant fear of which of the following?

Anorexia Nervosa is primarily characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight, which is central to the disorder. Individuals with anorexia exhibit a distorted body image, viewing themselves as overweight even when they are at a significantly low body weight. This fear of weight gain drives their behaviors, such as severe restriction of food intake and excessive exercise, in an effort to lose or maintain weight at dangerous levels. This fear is not only about the act of gaining weight itself, but also the associated beliefs about self-worth tied to weight and shape.

The other response options address concerns that may be relevant to individuals with various mental health conditions, but they are not specifically defining features of Anorexia Nervosa. Loss of social connections might be a consequence of the illness, and concerns about developing medical issues or being criticized could be seen in other anxiety-related disorders, but they do not capture the core fear inherent to Anorexia Nervosa. Thus, the intense fear of gaining weight remains the hallmark characteristic that defines this eating disorder.