Eating Disorders Also Affect Boys and Men

Eating disorders are not just a problem for girls and women. Boys and men also suffer from eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. The common misconception that this disease only affects females can mean that boys often arrive to treatment later in the disease process. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, about one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male and an estimated 10 million males will struggle with an eating disorder at some point in their lives.

Physical signs and behaviors of this disease may be inadvertently missed by loved ones, school staff or sometimes busy health professionals. This coupled with an inadequately nourished brain, delays young boys in acknowledging the disease and their need to reach out for help. Consequently, males become more ill as more time elapses.

Pressure Comes from Media and Peers

Many parents and activists worry about the messages young girls learn from the media: Are girls learning that thinness defines their self-worth? Do they succumb to peer pressure to look and dress a certain way?

Yet, boys and men also fall prey to pressure from their peers and from the media's portrayal of the physically strong man. Many strive for athletic bodies with an unrealistically low amount of body fat. Without fully understanding the best strategies, or the implications of undesirable practices, males may believe that a lower body fat percentage is the means in reaching that goal. Media outlets, online sources and peer discussions may give youths an impression of what standards they should adhere to and what they should look like. This in turn, can influence how they feel about themselves. Males, as well as females, admit that body-weight teasing and bullying were triggers in beginning their eating disorder behaviors.

Signs that a man or adolescent boy has an eating disorder may include being overly focused on body shape, muscles and imperfections. Additional indicators include anabolic steroid use, excessive time spent exercising at the expense of other activities, heading to the restroom immediately after eating and following a strict eating routine.

Eating disorders affect an individual's emotional and physical health. Many with eating disorders suffer from depression and social withdrawal. These men may also experience constipation, electrolyte disorders, irregular heart rate, dental enamel erosion and low levels of testosterone.

Help is Available

If you're struggling with your eating, ask for help — even if you don't know if your problem qualifies as an eating disorder. If you're concerned that someone you know has an eating disorder, don't ignore it or think it will get better on its own. Talk to them about your concerns and ask them for their opinion. Understand that the primary problem is not food, so simply going on another diet is not the solution. The dangerous eating patterns seen with eating disorders are symptoms of psychological problems.

The health care team should involve mental health and medical specialists, as well as a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in eating disorders. If your friend or family member recognizes their eating disorder but doesn't know what to do about it, you can help by offering to look for a specialist. If they deny the problem, bring it to their attention again at a later date. In the meantime, learn what you can about eating disorders and make an appointment with a specialist to talk about your concerns and to get support.

Learn More About Eating Disorders in Men

• National Eating Disorders Association