Anorexia nervosa in males is relatively uncommon and therefore is difficult to research. Nevertheless, the study of such cases is important and may yield valuable clues to the aetiological mechanisms and expression of this disorder. This study compared the characteristics of 12 males with primary anorexia nervosa with 36 female anorectics. The pattern of the disorder was remarkably similar in both sexes. Our findings are discussed with relevance to the available literature on this topic.