Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder that mainly occurs in young women aged between teens to thirties, but about one-tenth of the patients are boys and young men. A recent survey showed that about 10% of people exhibited symptoms or tendencies towards anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, while around 3% were diagnosed with more severe forms of these disorders. People in other age groups or those who need to maintain their weight for professional reasons may also be affected.
It is worth noting that many patients in the early stages of the illness are unwilling to admit that they have anorexia nervosa. Families, due to busy lifestyles or not dining together often, may overlook the patient's condition. By the time the problem is noticed, the illness has often progressed to a more serious stage.