How common is anorexia?
Anorexia is much more common in women than in men.1 Between 5 and 37 in 1,000 females get anorexia at some time in their lives.1
And Anorexia is more common in teenage girls and young women (in their early twenties) than in older women. Children can get anorexia, too.2
Not many men get anorexia compared with women. For every 10 women who get treatment for anorexia, there will be one man.3 4 But nowadays, more men are talking to their doctors about having anorexia.
Some people are more likely to get anorexia than others. For more information, see Who's at risk of getting anorexia?
Sources for the information on this page:
- American Psychiatric Association Work Group on Eating Disorders. Practice guideline for the treatment of patients with eating disorders (revision). American Journal of Psychiatry. 2000; 157 (1 Supplement): 1-39.
- National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. Eating disorder info: general information. Available at http://www.anad.org (accessed on 4 January 2008).
- Moses S. Anorexia nervosa. January 2007. Family Practice Notebook. Available at http://www.fpnotebook.com/psy79.htm (accessed on 4 January 2008).
- Kendler KS, MacLean C, Neale M, et al. The genetic epidemiology of bulimia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1991; 148: 1627-1637.
This information was last updated in Mar 10, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
