Anorexia and Gender

[Page 67]Eating disorders affect close to 1% of the population worldwide. Of that number, almost 90% of cases occur in women. Anorexia nervosa is the most deadly mental health disorder according to the National Eating Disorder Association. Up to 20% of those diagnosed with anorexia will die as a result of the disorder. Despite the numbers that show this as a female disorder, more men are developing anorexia, and there are distinct patterns that influence the presentation of anorexia in men and women. Gender dynamics, such as transsexualism, femininity, and sports involvement, have all influenced who develops this disorder.

For men, there are considerations of sexuality and abuse that contribute to the disorder, as well as changing pressures for body type. For women, there is a ...