Anorexia is more prevalent in young females than males due to a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors.
Biological Factors
Females have biological vulnerabilities related to puberty and hormone differences that increase risk for eating disorders. During puberty, sex steroid hormones such as estradiol and progesterone modulate genetic influences and brain responses linked to eating pathology in females more than in males. Lack of early testosterone exposure and lower estradiol in females also contribute to heightened risk for pathological eating behaviors. Brain imaging studies show that females exhibit stronger brain activity associated with negative body perception, which may increase vulnerability to anorexia.
Sociocultural and Psychological Factors
Sociocultural pressures, especially the pervasive cultural idealization of thinness for females, play a significant role. Girls are more likely than boys to internalize the thin body ideal, increasing dissatisfaction with their bodies and risk for anorexia. Additionally, early sexualization and objectification of females can contribute to psychiatric vulnerabilities, including eating disorders. This sociocultural environment also makes recovery challenging because the culture may implicitly discourage weight gain and recovery in females with anorexia.
Interaction of Factors Across Development
The prevalence difference emerges prominently during and after puberty, signaling the importance of developmentally linked biological changes interacting with sociocultural pressures. Animal studies also support that these biological factors operate independently of sociocultural influences, confirming the unique female susceptibility to anorexia.
In summary, anorexia's higher prevalence in young females reflects an interplay of hormone-driven biological risks, culturally mediated body image pressures, and psychological vulnerabilities specific to females generally and especially during puberty.
