Estrogen and the etiology of anorexia nervosa

Most patients suffering from anorexia nervosa are women, but the types and relative contributions of social, psychological, or organic characteristics of women that make women more likely to develop this feeding disorder are uncertain. In this theoretical review, evidence that the female sex hormone, estrogen, contributes to the symptoms seen in anorexia and underlies the sex difference in incidence is discussed. Current data on the anorexic potency of estrogen in experimental animals, humans, and in anorexic patients is presented, along with a suggestion that treatment of anorexics with progesterone, a hormone that blocks these effects of estrogen, might have a beneficial influence upon the outcome of anorexia nervosa.