Eating Disorders in Teenage Boys are Rapidly Increasing: Recognise the Symptoms
For some time now, eating disorders have often been considered a problem that only affects women. However, the latest data shows a worrying trend in men. In the United States, nearly 7 million men have been recorded as having experienced an eating disorder in their lives, with adolescence being the most at-risk period.
Jonathan Levine, clinical supervisor at Equip Health, revealed that these symptoms begin to appear as early as age 10 and peak between the ages of 14 and 16. “Generally, puberty and early college years are times when boys are most at risk of developing eating disorders,” Levine explained.
Data from a 2023 study in Ontario showed a shocking figure: hospitalisations for eating disorders in young men increased by 416% between 2000 and 2019. This increase often goes unnoticed due to stigma and gender stereotypes.
Dr. Paul Houser, Medical Director of the eating disorder program at Dayton Children’s Hospital, stated that diagnosis in men is much more difficult. “Unfortunately, this increase does not surprise me. Eating disorders are difficult to detect in young people in general, but this is even more difficult for young boys and men,” said Dr. Houser.
In addition to anorexia and bulimia, a new category has emerged called Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Unlike other eating disorders, ARFID is not driven by body image, but by fear of the consequences of eating, such as fear of choking, vomiting, or sensory aversion to certain foods.
Experts point to social media as one of the main triggers. Short-form content on platforms like TikTok often glorifies unrealistic body shapes. While teenage girls aspire to thin bodies, teenage boys are now obsessed with large muscles or muscle dysmorphia.
Levine highlighted the trend of Marvel superhero characters normalising impossible body standards, such as a six-pack with a body fat percentage of only 12%. This constant exposure makes boys feel watched and compared in ways that have never happened before.
Parents are advised to be vigilant for the following behavioural changes:
If they suspect a problem, the best course of action is to talk openly without judging. Dr. Houser suggests asking open-ended questions such as, “What do you see on the internet about how your body should look?”
Levine reminds parents not to blame themselves. “It is easy to get caught up in self-blame, feeling that this development of eating disorders is a failure of parenting, when in fact it is not. I urge parents to take immediate action and not worry about the reasons. The reasons will emerge later, the most important thing is to seek help immediately,” he said. (Parents/Z-2)