A comparison between young males and females with anorexia nervosa in a clinical setting

Background: Knowledge of eating disorders in young and adolescent males is sparse.

Aim: To investigate clinical presentations in males and females with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Methods: Using a retrospective case-control design, data were collected from case records for 41 males diagnosed with AN. Data for a comparison group of 41 females with AN were collected, matched to the males by age and date at admission. The collected data covered demographic, medical, psychiatric, and treatment information.

Results: No differences were found between the sexes in the percentage of expected weight (%EBW) at admission or discharge, or in psychiatric comorbidity. Treatment duration was equal for both sexes, but males received fewer treatment sessions than did females.

Conclusion: These results indicate that the clinical presentations of young males and females with AN were very similar in terms of clinical characteristics.Impact StatementWhat is already known about this subject? Research on AN in male children and adolescents is sparse. Previous studies comparing male and female patients with EDs have found both differences and similarities between sexes.What does this study add? This study found few differences in terms of clinical presentation of AN between the sexes.