[Anorexia nervosa in boys and men].

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is thought to appear predominantly in girls and young women. Twenty years ago the incidence of AN was considered as 1 boy to 10-15 girls. Recent data suggest that the girls to boys rate is 4:1. The most frequently AN in boys begins during puberty. Boys and young men reluctantly apply for help to medical professionals trying to hide their symptoms. The diagnosis of AN is established and the treatment is being performed only when they suffer from a marked loss of weight or a severe depression with suicidal thoughts. We report seven male patients with AN and review the differences in a course of this disease between male and female patients.