What disorder is indicated by Kathy Mills' severe weight loss and concerns about family image while attending a military academy?

The severe weight loss that Kathy Mills is experiencing, along with her concerns about family image, strongly aligns with the characteristics of anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is an eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, leading individuals to restrict their food intake and engage in behaviors that result in significant weight loss.

In the context of attending a military academy, where there may be heightened pressure to conform to certain body standards and ideals, her preoccupation with weight loss and body image becomes more pronounced. This suggests a deeper psychological component of needing to control one’s body in response to external standards, which is a hallmark of anorexia.

While bulimia involves episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, it does not usually feature the same intense focus on weight and body image issues in the context of severe restriction that is evident here. Catatonia is more associated with psychomotor disturbances rather than weight loss and eating disorders, and antisocial personality disorder involves a pattern of disregard for others and is not typically characterized by the symptoms Kathy is experiencing. Thus, the clear indicators of significant weight loss and concern over body image directly point to anorexia as the most fitting diagnosis.