Eating Disorders in Men on the Rise, Studies Show

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia have long been portrayed as being mostly “feminine problems,” considering they affect girls and women much more often than males. In fact, most research has shown that females are twice as likely as males to develop eating disorders.

That said, emerging studies suggest that a growing proportion of boys and men are struggling with body dysmorphia, low self-esteem regarding their appearance and even eating disorders.

Experts believe that due to factors like increased social media use and the rise of “fitness culture,” men are now susceptible to the same types of obsessions with food, body weight and shape that women have been for many decades, and now eating disorders in men are on the rise.

Study Findings: Eating Disorders in Men on the Rise

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), about one in three people struggling with an eating disorder is male.

There’s a range of eating disorders in existence, with some of the most common types being:

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• orthorexia, or a preoccupation with eating only “clean” foods
• anorexia, focused on restrictive eating and severe calorie deprivation
• bulimia, which involves purging foods via vomiting, laxative use or excessive exercise
• binge eating disorder, in which people consume large quantities of food in a brief period

What do males with eating disorders tend to focus on?

A 2021 study published in Current Opinions in Pediatrics found that eating disorders usually affect boys and men a bit differently than they do girls and women, specifically by being focused more on muscularity and muscle-enhancing goals.

While women with eating disorders tend to want to make their bodies smaller, men with eating disorders typically want to appear more defined, lean, muscular and strong. Case in point: NEDA reports that “25% of normal weight males perceive themselves to be underweight and 90% of teenage boys exercise with the goal of bulking up.”

A 2019 study even found that about 22% of young men turn to dangerous means to bulk up, suggesting that almost one in four young men displays disordered eating behaviors.

Which eating disorder is most commonly found in males?

Research shows that men are most likely to suffer from binge eating disorder, in which someone eats a large amount of food almost compulsively within a short time, such as over hours or the course of one day. A full 40% of people with binge eating disorders are male.

Over-exercising, restricting food intake, purging, laxative abuse and fasting for weight loss are also thought to be relatively common among men.

Muscle dysmorphia is another subtype of body dysmorphic disorder that usually occurs in men, especially bodybuilders. Signs that a man has this condition can include:

• spending many hours in the gym
• spending lots of money on fitness equipment and supplements geared toward muscle gains
• having abnormal eating patterns
• using steroids that can potentially be dangerous

What It Means: Risks and Side Effects

Symptoms and side effects caused by eating disorders can affect all organ systems in both males and females, leading to a number of mental and physical health problems. NEDA even states that “studies suggest that risk of mortality for males with eating disorders is higher than it is for females.”

What factors put males at risk for developing eating disorders? Boys and men are more likely to develop eating disorders if they fall into one or more of these categories:

• Being an athlete, which can lead to excessive exercise and pressure to perform well
• Being a bodybuilder
• Being a racial/ethnic minority
• Being a gender minority in a given situation or homosexual
• Having another mood disorder or mental health disorder, such as OCD, anxiety or depression, or substance abuse problem
• Experiencing lots of exposure to unattainable body images in the media or from social media
• They were abused as children

Risks and Side Effects of Eating Disorders in Men:

Men who lose a lot of weight, especially if it’s lost rapidly and they wind up being underweight, can develop medical complications that can sometimes be serious. Severe calorie deprivation, binging and purging can also negatively affect a man’s health even if he appears normal or above average in weight.

Some side effects and health problems that can develop due to eating disorders in men include:

• Low appetite and lack of interest in eating or food, which results in nutritional deficiencies
• Low testosterone levels
• Low sex drive and infertility
• Low vitamin D status
• Tooth decay
• Bone density loss and higher risk for fractures
• Anxiety due to concerns about consequences of eating
• Interference with social functioning (such as inability to eat with others)
• Digestive issues, including bloating and constipation
• Higher risk for health complications, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases if the man binges

Tips to Overcome Eating Disorders

Sadly, less than half of people with eating disorders typically seek professional help. To make matters worse, many eating disorder treatment programs focus more on treating women and feminine issues, so treatment guidance may lack specificity to boys and men.

There’s also concern that cultural bias leads many men who are affected by eating issues to avoid seeking treatment and help.

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Experts recommend that anyone with an eating disorder, whether male or female, try the steps below to help treat disordered eating patterns:

• Work with a cognitive behavioral therapist, ideally one trained in eating disorders in men. Trained psychotherapists can help people suffering from a range of eating disorders, in addition to other mental health problems, by targeting negative thought patterns. Interpersonal therapy is another type of therapy has been shown to be effective for body image issues.
• Generally speaking, seeing a therapist is a great place to start because he/she can help you decide if you also need help from a registered dietitian, nutritionist or other food specialist who can help you form a healthy eating plan to overcome deficiencies.
• In some cases, antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications may also be helpful. You can ask your doctor about his or her opinion regarding medication use.

Conclusion

• Eating disorders in men are on the rise, including binge eating disorder, purging and restriction.
• About 22% of people diagnosed with an eating disorder are male. Young men, athletes, minorities and homosexual men are at though to be at an increased risk.
• Why do so many men have eating disorders? Social media and media exposure to unattainable body images are thought to a play a role. So is the rise in gym/fitness culture, which promotes masculine, muscular body ideals.