Identify a true statement about anorexia nervosa. It begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. ? It is difficult to detect as anorexics fall within a normal weight range. It is about 10 times more likely to occur in females than in males. It occurs when an individual consistently follows a binge-and-purge pattern.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: It is about 10 times more likely to occur in females than in males.
Explanation:
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Among the options provided, the statement that it is about 10 times more likely to occur in females than in males is accurate. Research and clinical studies consistently show that anorexia nervosa predominantly affects females, especially during adolescence and early adulthood. While males can also develop anorexia nervosa, the condition is significantly more common in females, partly due to sociocultural pressures related to body image.
The other options are incorrect for the following reasons:
- The statement that anorexia begins in late adolescence or early adulthood is partially true, but it is not the most defining or distinguishing feature of the disorder. While many cases do begin during this stage of life, anorexia can also start earlier or later in some individuals.
- The idea that anorexics fall within a normal weight range and are therefore difficult to detect is misleading. One of the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa is significantly low body weight, typically below what is considered healthy for the individual’s age, height, and sex. This makes the condition more visible in many cases, though not all.
- The claim that it occurs when an individual consistently follows a binge-and-purge pattern is more accurately associated with bulimia nervosa, not anorexia nervosa. Individuals with bulimia often maintain a normal weight and engage in cycles of binge eating followed by purging through vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise.
Therefore, the most factually accurate and specific statement about anorexia nervosa is that it is about 10 times more likely to occur in females than in males.
