Anorexia nervosa is most commonly diagnosed in which demographic?

• A. Adolescent females
• B. Elderly males
• C. Preschool children
• D. Middle-aged adults

Answer: (A)

Anorexia nervosa most often begins during adolescence, especially among teenage girls. This is the age when body image concerns, social pressures around appearance, and a drive for control can strongly influence eating patterns. Hormonal changes and the developmental push toward independence can also intersect with perfectionistic tendencies, making this group particularly vulnerable. While it can occur in males or in other age groups, the prevalence in elderly, preschool, or middle-aged individuals is much lower, so those groups are not the most typical pattern.