A UCLA study shows that the symptoms of anorexia may be more persistent in recovering female patients than recovering male patients.
Studying 99 male and female anorexics age 14 to 17, researchers found that one year after recovery, 8.4 percent of females had relapsed into full-blown anorexia, while no males had. Female patients were also more likely to show continued preoccupation with their weight and to fall below their recommended maintenance weight.
Researchers cite gender differences in brain chemistry, the relationship of certain types of anxiety to anorexia and cultural influences as potential causes for the disparity.