MDAdvice.com - Ask A Doctor

HOME • HEALTH • LIBRARY • AREAS • CENTERS • BOARDS • CHATS • JOIN FREE

FIND IT

HEALTH CENTER
Health Library
Drug Information
Informative Material
Ask An Expert
More Resources

COMMUNITY
Message Boards
Live Chats

CENTERS
Health Topics
Condition Centers
Wellness Centers

HEALTH AREAS
Children's Health
Women's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health

SEARCH

ABOUT US

MDAdvice.com Home > Ask A Doctor >
Have a health question? Get reliable answers here.

Q: Can anorexia nervosa also occur in boys or does it only occur in girls?

A: Anorexia nervosa is a disease characterized by intense fear of fatness with markedly decrease in food intake and loss of body weight of 15% or more. Although this disease occurs predominantly in females, it may, nevertheless, also occur in males. When the disease occurs in males, it usually occurs at an earlier age and also has a worse prognosis than when it occurs in girls. Most studies report a ratio of about 20 to 1 between the number of females and the number of males with the disease. Although anorexia cannot be prevented, doing the following things can help ensure that the disease does not affect your child in the future: encourage your child to confront personal problems realistically, and try to correct or cope with problems with the help of counselors, therapists, family, and friends.

Updated: 03/06/99

Click Here to ask a MDAdvice.com doctor your medical question.

Send This Article to a Friend

Return to Ask A Doctor Main Page

Copyright © The Online Medical Network Inc. All rights reserved. All material provided by MDAdvice.com is intended for informative purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. Use of this site indicates your agreement with the Terms of Use.