Eating disorders (ED) are a diverse range of mental illnesses with no clear etiology or

predictable course that have traditionally been associated with adolescence and early

adulthood (Halmi, 2005). Initial clinical research showed a bimodal distribution of age at

start for anorexia nervosa (AN), with two peaks at 14 and 18 years of age, and a

somewhat later starting for binge eating disorder (BN), approach early adulthood with

rare instances starting before puberty. Subsequent epidemiological research cast doubt on

this evidence: multiple clinical investigations found no bimodal distribution of age at start

for AN and identified a unimodal distribution of age at start for BN, with an age at onset

of between 18 and 19 years.

Eating disorders are severe psychological problems that affect both adolescents and

adults. Females are more likely to suffer from eating disorders, with estimates ranging

from 3:1 to 18:1. According to certain studies, the clinical presentation of persons with

eating disorders may also vary by sex. For instance, adolescent boys have less severe ED

symptom pathology than girls, notably less anxiety about their weight and form, and they

engage in much more overactivity than women. Males' perceived "ideal physique" also

tends to change with age (younger guys seek a bigger physique, whilst older males seek a

leaner body), but females constantly express a desire to be smaller.

Youth with EDs tend to have a high prevalence of co-occurring disorders, with no gender

differences in rates of anxiety or sadness. However, general population studies

consistently demonstrate that young girls suffer from greater rates of depression and

anxiety, while boys suffer from more behavioral problems. Adult population studies also

reveal a high prevalence of comorbid illnesses among men and females with eating

disorders, while females with eating disorders seem to have greater rates of sadness and
anxiety. Taken together, it is obvious that large-scale comparisons of youth with various

ED diagnoses are necessary to identify any possible sex differences in ED pathology and

hence to guide diagnosis and therapy.