A case of anorexia nervosa in a preadolescent male

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one among the severe psychiatric disorders of adolescence. AN in boys is often overlooked by both physicians and psychiatrists since it is predominantly seen in females. Teenagers usually get over the disorder, but in some cases, AN can cause serious complications, including chronicity and death. AN is often encountered among females and more so in the affluent class. Here, we present an 11-year-old boy belonging to a middle-class Indian family, referred for psychiatric evaluation from the pediatrics department after ruling out all medical causes for the weight loss. The patient complained of loss of appetite along with weight loss of 14 kg in the last 3 months. In-depth psychiatric evaluation revealed significant distress of gaining weight as well as an intense disgust related to his body shape. A cluster of determined food refusal and weight loss triggered the exploration of other symptoms of AN. The patient responded to antidepressants and well-planned cognitive behavioral therapy. Results were seen in the form of return to the normal range of body weight, shape, and size along with its confident acceptance.

Keywords

• anorexia nervosa
• body image
• cognitive behavioral therapy
• eating disorders
• preadolescent male