Anorexia nervosa presenting in a prepubertal boy

A case of anorexia nervosa that presented in a prepubertal boy is reported. It seemed that particular maternal attitudes towards dieting, paternal criticism of the boy's body shape and size, and severe family disruption were the major factors in the aetiology of this disorder. If such attitudes to food intake and body size and shape and major family disruptions become more prevalent in the community, then one might expect to see an increase in the prevalence of this serious disorder in younger children, which results in serious physical and psychological sequelae.