Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychological disorder. It has a prevalence of about 0.3% in young women. It is more than twice as common in teenage girls with an average age of onset of 15 years. 80%-90% of patients with anorexia nervosa are female. Loss of appetite is a major cause of weight loss in young women and is the cause of admission to pediatric and adolescent clinics. Most general practitioners have few cases of severe anorexia nervosa, which cause immense stress and frustration among friends, family and professionals.
