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Epidemiology
Anorexia has an average prevalence of 0.9% in women and 0.3% in men in developed countries. The condition largely affects young adolescent women, research from 2004 states that with those between 15 and 19 years old making up 40% of all cases. Anorexia is more prevalent in females and males born after 1945. The lifetime incidence of atypical anorexia nervosa, a form of ED-NOS in which not all of the diagnostic criteria for AN are met, is much higher, at 5–12%.

Underrepresentation
Eating disorders are less reported in preindustrial, non-westernized countries than in Western countries. In Africa, not including South Africa, the only data presenting information about eating disorders occurs in case reports and isolated studies, not studies investigating prevalence. Data shows in research that in westernized civilizations, ethnic minorities have very similar rates of eating disorders, contrary to the belief that eating disorders predominantly occur in Caucasian people. Due to different standards of beauty for men and women, men are often not diagnosed as anorexic. Many men do not conform to the ideals of women to be thin and men typically try to be lean and muscular In addition they may not meet the DSM IV criteria for BMI since they have muscle weight, but have very little fat. In an article investigating the differences between beauty ideals in men and women found that in women’s magazines weight loss is advertised 10.5 times more than men’s, and in men’s magazines the advertisements were to change body shape rather than loose weight (Andersen 2006). Often many men have been reluctant to participate in studies, and the data that is available today does not show the full picture. Men and women athletes often are often overlooked as anorexic however, estimates show that 33% of male athletes have an eating disorder, according to information from the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Research emphasizes the importance for strict watch over athletes diet, weight, and symptoms, which adhere to all of the defining characteristics of anorexia on the DSM, rather than just looking at weight and BMI. For athletes, ritualized activities such as weigh-ins place emphasis on weight, promoting the development of eating disorders among athletes. While women use diet pills, which is an indicator of unhealthy behavior and an eating disorder, men use steroids, which contextualizes the beauty ideals for genders. This also shows men having a preoccupation with their body, which is an indicator of an eating disorder. In a Canadian study, 4% of boys in grade nine used anabolic steroids (Rikani 2013). In addition, men are underrepresented because doctors less likely to ask men questions to see if they exhibit symptoms, since anorexia is commonly thought of as something that afflicts women. This is also demonstrated in anorexic men having it’s own title: “manorexia,” even though it is the same condition.